A New Malaria Vaccine?
A new malaria vaccine, R21/Matrix-M, has shown promising results in protecting children under 1.5 years old against malaria infection. Developed by the University of Oxford, this vaccine demonstrated 68%-75% efficacy in a phase 3 study, especially in areas with seasonal malaria. The vaccine is seen as a significant advancement in malaria prevention and could help address the high demand for effective vaccines.
The study, published in The Lancet, involved over 4800 children across Burkina Faso, Mali, Kenya, and Tanzania. Children aged 5 to 36 months, with an average age of 19 months, living in regions with varying malaria prevalence participated. The results showed that the vaccine was much more effective in children aged 5 to 17 months compared to those aged 18 to 36 months. In areas with seasonal malaria, the vaccine's efficacy reached 75%, while in regions with year-round transmission, it was 68%.
Comparing the new vaccine with the previously approved RTS, S/AS01 vaccine, researchers highlighted the higher efficacy of R21/Matrix-M. They noted that it is cheaper to produce and can be manufactured in larger quantities. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that neither vaccine is superior to the other, and the choice should depend on the specifics of the vaccination program and the availability and costs of the vaccines.
The WHO now recommends both the R21/Matrix-M and RTS, S/AS01 vaccines for malaria prevention in children, acknowledging the importance of having multiple vaccines to meet the high demand for malaria prevention. The safety of the new vaccine is considered high, comparable to that of the older RTS, S/AS01 vaccine. Overall, the development of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine represents a significant advancement in the fight against malaria, particularly in young children.