World’s first malaria vaccine to be tested in Malawi

By Samuel Abuya

A large-scale test of the world’s first malaria vaccine meant to give what has been described as partial protection to children is set to kick off in Malawi. The new RTS,S vaccine basically works by training the immune system of a person to attack the malaria parasite that is normally spread by mosquito bites.

Small trials of the malaria vaccine that were carried out earlier indicated that almost 40% of the 5-to-17 month-olds who received the vaccine were protected.

It has been reported that malaria cases are on the rise again after many years of success in fighting the deadly disease.

According to reliable and most recent statistics, Africa accounts for at least 90% of the people infected of malaria. The continent also lost 435,000 lives to the disease, a majority of them being children.

In 2017 alone, at least five million cases of malaria were recorded in Malawi. The vaccine will also be tested in Kenya and Ghana.

Africa Global News Publication