WORLD’S FIRST MALARIA IMMUNIZATION TO BEGIN IN 2018

The world’s first malaria vaccine immunisation is to start in 2018 with phase one of the pilot deployment of the vaccine in sub-Saharan Africa. (WHO). The vaccine known as Mosquirix or RTS’S and developed by British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline is only partially effective and needs to be given in a four-dose schedule.

The vaccine was developed in partnership with PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative and part-funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Malaria infects about 200 million people yearly world wide and in 2015, an estimated 440,000 killed by malaria. In sub-Saharan Africa, two main species of the vector dominates; Anopheles gambie and Anopheles funestus. The vast majority of malaria deaths are among babies in sub Saharan Africa.