World’s First Malaria Vaccine Set For 2018 Rollout in Africa

World’s first malaria vaccine will be rolled out in 2018 across the sub-Saharan Africa according to a report by the World Health Organization.

Advanced clinical trials show that the vaccine RTS,S provides partial protection against malaria in young children.

“The pilot deployment of this first-generation vaccine marks a milestone in the fight against malaria,” said Dr Pedro Alonso, Director of the WHO Global Malaria Programme. “These pilot projects will provide the evidence we need from real-life settings to make informed decisions on whether to deploy the vaccine on a wide scale.”

The pilot programme will evaluate the viability of delivering the required 4 doses of RTS,S; the impact of RTS,S on lives saved; and the safety of the vaccine in the context of routine use. In that period scientists will measure the effectiveness of the vaccine in children aged 5–17 months old.

Between 2000 and 2015, the rate of new malaria cases in sub-Saharan Africa fell by 42% and malaria mortality rates fell by 66%. However, this region continues to account for approximately 90% of global malaria cases and deaths.