African babies are to receive a £3 malaria vaccine that could eradicate the disease within a decade.
The first doses of the R21 vaccine, developed by a team at Oxford University, will be administered today to babies under two years of age in Ivory Coast and tomorrow (Tuesday) in South Sudan.
It marks the culmination of 30 years of research to find a vaccine against malaria, which kills more than 600,000 people a year, most of them in Africa and 80 percent of them under the age of five.
The Serum Institute, which makes the vaccine, has already produced 25 million doses and has the capacity to increase production to 100 million a year.
The other malaria vaccine, a shot called RTS,S, was introduced earlier this year but is twice as expensive and limited by manufacturing restrictions.
African babies to receive £3 malaria vaccine that could eradicate malaria within a decade
The first doses of the R21 vaccine, developed by a team at Oxford University, will be administered to babies under two years of age in Ivory Coast today and South Sudan tomorrow (Tuesday).
“We are finally within sight of a malaria-free world,” Adar Poonawalle, chief executive of the Serum Institute of India, told the Sunday Times.
“Cost is the key issue. If it was a $10 (£7.90) vaccine, forget it – you couldn’t get it to the countries we’re getting to because the budgets just wouldn’t allow it.”
Fifteen African countries, including the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chad, Ghana, Mozambique, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Burundi and Nigeria, are expected to introduce the vaccine by the end of the year.
Another 15 nations are expected to join.
The new vaccine, funded by Gavi, a global vaccine alliance made up of charities, the World Health Organization and governments including the UK’s, is approved for children as young as three.
Sir Adrian Hill, director of Oxford’s Jenner Institute, was involved in the development of both Astra-Zeneca’s Covid vaccine and the new malaria vaccine.
He said: ‘I have been working on malaria vaccines since 1994. We have been waiting for this for a long time, but here we are finally.
‘For the first time, really in recent years, eradication is starting to look really credible.
Malaria vaccine arrives in South Sudan, while 15 African countries including Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, Ghana, Mozambique, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Burundi and Nigeria are expected to introduce it before the end of the year
“I think all of this is feasible, not in the next five years, but maybe in the next ten.”
In trials, the vaccine has been shown to be up to 79 percent effective in preventing the deadliest strain of malaria (and the most common in Africa) in young children.
It works by attacking the parasite that causes the disease.
Trials to see if it is effective in pregnant women are expected to begin in the coming weeks.
Malaria is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, claiming the life of a child every two minutes, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Malaria is a potentially fatal tropical disease transmitted by mosquitoes.
It is one of the leading causes of death in the world, claiming the life of a child every two minutes, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Most of these deaths occur in Africa, where 250,000 young people die each year from this disease.
Malaria is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, of which five cause malaria.
The Plasmodium parasite is transmitted primarily by female Anopheles mosquitoes.
When an infected mosquito bites a person, the parasite enters their bloodstream.
Symptoms include:
- Fever
- Feeling hot and shaky
- Headaches
- Vomiting
- Muscle pain
- Diarrhea
These usually appear between one week and 18 days after infection, but can take up to a year or sometimes even longer.
People should seek medical attention immediately if they develop symptoms during or after visiting a malaria-affected area.
Malaria is found in more than 100 countries, including:
- Large areas of Africa and Asia
- Central and South America
- Haiti and Dominican Republic
- Parts of the Middle East
- Some Pacific Islands
A blood test confirms the diagnosis.
In very rare cases, malaria can be transmitted through blood transfusions.
Malaria can largely be prevented by using insect repellent, wearing clothing that covers limbs, and using an insecticide-treated mosquito net.
Pills to prevent malaria are also often recommended.
Treatment, which involves anti-malarial medication, usually leads to full recovery if done in time.
If left untreated, the infection can lead to severe anemia. This occurs when the parasites penetrate the red blood cells, causing them to break down and reduce the total number of cells.
And cerebral malaria can occur when small blood vessels in the brain become blocked, causing seizures, brain damage and even coma.
Fountain: NHS options