Milestone in fight against malaria: £3 vaccine to be rolled out across Africa, could eradicate deadly mosquito-borne disease within 10 years
African babies are being given a £3 malaria vaccine that could potentially eradicate the disease within a decade.
The first doses of the R21 vaccine, developed by a team from the University of Oxford, will be administered to babies under two in Ivory Coast today and in South Sudan tomorrow (Tuesday).
It marks the culmination of 30 years of research into a vaccine against malaria, which kills more than 600,000 people each year, most of whom live in Africa and 80 percent of whom are under the age of five.
The Serum Institute, which produces the vaccine, has already produced 25 million doses and has the capacity to increase production to 100 million per year.
The only other malaria vaccine, the RTS,S shot, was introduced earlier this year but is twice as expensive and has production limitations.
African babies to receive £3 malaria vaccine that could eradicate malaria within a decade
The first doses of the R21 jab, developed by a team from the University of Oxford, will be given to babies under two in Ivory Coast today and in South Sudan tomorrow (Tuesday).
“A world without malaria is finally within sight,” Adar Poonawalle, director of the Serum Institute in India, told the Sunday Times.
‘Cost is absolutely the key question. If this was a $10 (£7.90) vaccine, forget it – you wouldn’t be able to get to the countries that we have because the budgets just wouldn’t allow it.’
Fifteen countries in Africa, including the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, Ghana, Mozambique, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Burundi and Nigeria, are expected to introduce the vaccine by the end of the year.
Fifteen other countries will follow.
The new vaccine, funded by Gavi, a global vaccine alliance of charities, the World Health Organization and governments including the UK, has been approved for children up to three years old.
Sir Adrian Hill, director of the Jenner Institute in Oxford, was involved in the development of both the Astra-Zeneca Covid vaccine and the new malaria vaccine.
He said: ‘I have been working on malaria vaccines since 1994. It has been a long time coming, but now we are finally here.’
‘For the first time in the past few years, eradication seems truly credible.
The malaria vaccine arrives in South Sudan as 15 countries in Africa, including the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, Ghana, Mozambique, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Burundi and Nigeria are expected to introduce it by the end of the year
“I think it’s all achievable, not in the next five years, but maybe in the next 10 years.”
Trials have shown the vaccine is up to 79 percent effective in preventing the deadliest form of malaria, most common in Africa, in young children.
It works by fighting the parasite that causes the disease.
Trials are expected to begin in the coming weeks to see whether the drug is also effective in pregnant women.
Malaria is one of the world’s leading causes of death, claiming the life of a child every two minutes, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Malaria is a life-threatening tropical disease spread by mosquitoes.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is one of the biggest causes of death in the world, with a child dying every two minutes.
Most deaths occur in Africa, where 250,000 young people die from the disease each year.
Malaria is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium. Five of these parasites cause malaria.
The Plasmodium parasite is mainly spread by female Anopheles mosquitoes.
When an infected mosquito bites a person, the parasite enters that person’s bloodstream.
Symptoms include:
- Fever
- It feels warm and shivery
- Headache
- Vomit
- muscle strain
- Diarrhea
These symptoms usually develop within a week to 18 days after infection, but can also take a year or sometimes even longer.
People should seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms during or after visiting an area where malaria is present.
Malaria occurs in more than 100 countries, including:
- Large parts of Africa and Asia
- Central and South America
- Haiti and the Dominican Republic
- Parts of the Middle East
- Some islands in the Pacific Ocean
A blood test confirms the diagnosis.
In very rare cases, malaria can be spread through blood transfusions.
Malaria can be largely prevented by using insect repellent, wearing clothing that covers your extremities, and using a mosquito net impregnated with insecticide.
Malaria tablets are also often recommended.
Treatment, which consists of anti-malarial drugs, usually leads to complete recovery if treatment is carried out in time.
Left untreated, the infection can lead to severe anemia. This occurs when the parasites invade red blood cells, which then rupture and reduce the number of cells overall.
Cerebral malaria can occur when the small blood vessels in the brain become blocked, leading to seizures, brain damage, and even coma.
Source: NHS Choices