WHO hails World's first malaria vaccine program launch in Malawi

World's first malaria vaccine program has been launched in Malawi to immunize babies in Malawi with the RTS, S vaccine.

The RTS, S vaccine had been in the making for 30 years and has shown partial protection against Plasmodium falciparum in young children. Clinical trials found that the vaccine prevents 4 of 10 malaria cases, as well as 3 in 10 cases of severe malaria. The vaccine also cut the level of severe anaemia—the most common reason kids die from the disease—by 60%. It has been developed by GlaxoSmithKline.

RTS, S vaccination is a fairly rigorous process that requires four doses, and the cooperation of country health ministries is needed to track and administer the vaccines. The first dose is given as soon as possible after 5 months of age, the second and third at monthly intervals following the first dose, and the fourth given 15 to 18 months after the third dose.

An estimated 450,000 people die of malaria each year, and, according to current estimates, the disease kills one child every 2 minutes. Most are in Africa, where the malaria death toll in kids reaches 250,000 every year.

On the launch of the programme, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, said tremendous gains against malaria have been made over the past 15 years with the use of bed nets and other measures, but progress has stalled or even reversed in some areas.

"We need new solutions to get the malaria response back on track, and this vaccine gives us a promising tool to get there," he said. "The malaria vaccine has the potential to save tens of thousands of children's lives."

The pilot program's goal is to reach 360,000 children each year in the three countries. Health ministries will guide where the vaccine will be given, focusing on areas with the moderate-to-high transmission. The vaccine is a complementary malaria control tool – to be added to the core package of WHO-recommended measures for malaria prevention, including the routine use of insecticide-treated bed nets, indoor spraying with insecticides, and the timely use of malaria testing and treatment.

“Malaria is a constant threat in the African communities where this vaccine will be given. The poorest children suffer the most and are at highest risk of death,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “We know the power of vaccines to prevent killer diseases and reach children, including those who may not have immediate access to the doctors, nurses and health facilities they need to save them when severe illness comes.”

“This is a day to celebrate as we begin to learn more about what this tool can do to change the trajectory of malaria through childhood vaccination,” she added.