WHO recommends new Malaria vaccine for Africa rollout in 2024

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended the use of a second malaria vaccine, which is a significant advance in the ongoing against this life-threatening disease.

WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced at a briefing held in Geneva, reminding the world of their earlier recommendation for the first malaria vaccine, RTS,S, approximately two years ago.

The newly recommended vaccine, R21/Matrix-M, developed by the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, is set to be rolled out in selected African countries in early 2024, with availability extending to other nations by mid-2024.

Tedros emphasized that the vaccine’s affordability, with each dose priced between $2 and $4, aims to make it accessible to children at risk of malaria across the affected regions.

The next crucial step involves WHO’s thorough review of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine for prequalification. Upon obtaining this stamp of approval, GAVI, the global vaccine alliance, and UNICEF will be authorized to procure the vaccine from manufacturers, ensuring widespread distribution.

The mass production of R21/Matrix-M is being managed by the Serum Institute of India and incorporates Novavax’s Matrix M adjuvant, highlighting international collaboration in the fight against malaria.

In addition to the malaria vaccine recommendation, WHO has extended its guidance to include the deployment of Takeda Pharmaceuticals’ vaccine, Qdenga, for the prevention of dengue. Targeting children aged six to 16 living in regions where dengue poses a significant public health threat, this vaccine has demonstrated its effectiveness against all four stereotypes of the dengue virus in individuals with prior infections.

However, WHO experts cautioned that there is still some uncertainty regarding the vaccine’s performance against stereotypes 3 and 4 in individuals who have not previously been infected.

Furthermore, WHO’s strategic advisory group has advocated for a simplified single-dose regimen for primary COVID-19 immunization. This approach is designed to enhance the acceptability of COVID-19 vaccinations at a time when many individuals have already experienced at least one prior infection.

It is important to note that the agency has emphasized the potential use of any monovalent or bivalent vaccine, particularly for regions where monovalent vaccines targeting the dominant XBB.1.5 variant are not readily available. This recommendation aims to ensure that vaccination efforts remain adaptable and effective against the evolving landscape of the COVID-19 virus.

Source: Reuters