17.9 C
New York
June 28, 2025
Africa Drugs Global development Health Malaria news Science Vaccines and immunisation World Health Organization

The new malaria vaccine will prevent many deaths – but it’s by no means the end of the disease

The new malaria vaccine will prevent many deaths – but it’s by no means the end of the disease

The new R21/Matrix-M vaccine will be far more easily available than the first vaccine – but the reality of life in Africa will blunt its impact

A new vaccine against malaria – which kills 600,000 people every year, mostly children – is to be injected into babies’ arms in 18 countries where the disease is most deadly. That’s joyous news. But the unbridled enthusiasm the announcement has generated says as much about the sorry state of malaria control as the brilliance of scientific invention.

Because this is an imperfect vaccine that at best will protect 75% of those given it. That’s the top figure from the clinical trials. In the reality of village life in poverty-ridden parts of Africa, it may keep fewer than half safe. It’s still hugely important to get vaccination programmes going in the 18 countries that will now be funded to run them, because many deaths will be averted. But it’s not the end of malaria. Nowhere near.

Continue reading…

Related posts

Kenyan cult leader goes on trial on terrorism charges over 400 deaths

TheWorldsNews

Russia invades Ukraine as Putin declares war to ‘demilitarise’ neighbour

TheWorldsNews

Australia news live: fog blanketing Sydney stops ferries; dating app operators to meet with government on reform

TheWorldsNews

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This