2023-07-16 18:15:00
Millions of deaths avoided: Africa eagerly awaits malaria vaccine
By Simone Schlindwein, Uganda – 16.07.2023, 18:15
For decades, the dream of a malaria vaccine has eluded scientists, but now it is finally becoming a reality. Malaria, a tropical disease, is one of the leading causes of death in Africa, especially among children under the age of five. However, with the introduction of a new vaccine, millions of lives are expected to be saved.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an infant dies from malaria every minute worldwide. In Africa alone, over half a million children have died from the disease as of 2021. But now, there is hope for change. The WHO has described the large-scale supply of the newly developed malaria vaccine to African health systems as a “breakthrough.”
The WHO plans to distribute around 18 million doses of the vaccine in twelve African countries by 2025. Countries such as Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Cameroon, where infection rates are highest due to tropical climates, will be prioritized. Additionally, another 28 African countries have expressed interest in the vaccine. Dr. Kate O’Brien, WHO Director for Immunization, Vaccines, and Biologics, stated that children will be prioritized as they are at the highest risk of dying from malaria.
Malaria, transmitted by parasites that nest in mosquitoes, has a significant impact on populations living in warm and humid tropics and subtropics. The disease affects around 90 percent of cases in Africa, with an estimated 200 million people falling ill every year. Out of those affected, approximately 600,000 people die from malaria annually, and three-quarters of them are children under the age of five. Malaria is the most common infectious disease in the world.
Not only is malaria a problem in Africa, but it is also being imported to other regions. Even in Germany, there have been nearly 600 reported cases in recent years, mainly from travelers returning from Africa. Mosquitoes are increasingly being spread through international travel, including airplanes and imported goods. The spread of Asian mosquitoes and parasites to East Africa via containers and imported goods is a growing concern raised by Uganda’s Virus Institute. This threat is particularly alarming as the Asian mosquitoes primarily breed in urban areas, while malaria has been more prevalent among the rural population in East Africa.
Malaria is also starting to spread to the United States and Europe. Isolated cases have been discovered in Greece, Spain, and Portugal. In June, the US health agency CDC issued a warning after six people in Florida and Texas fell ill. Researchers warn that due to climate change and rising temperatures, the infectious disease could continue to spread.
The development of a malaria vaccine has been a challenging task due to the weak immune response of the human body to the pathogen. However, a vaccine called RTS,S, developed by the British company GlaxoSmithKline, has shown promising effects in pilot projects conducted in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi since 2019. The vaccine has resulted in a 30 percent reduction in child mortality from malaria in the vaccination areas. Additionally, fewer vaccinated children experienced severe cases of malaria or required hospital treatment. However, multiple doses are required within the first two years of life, and the duration of the vaccine’s effectiveness is yet to be determined.
The encouraging results have led the WHO and the international vaccination alliance GAVI, which funded the development and production of the vaccine, to recommend its use in other African countries. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Africa Director, describes this as a “glimmer of hope” for the continent. The first ordered vaccine doses are expected to arrive in prioritized countries by the last quarter of 2023, and malaria vaccination campaigns will commence in early 2024. This significant step forward in preventing malaria is expected to save millions of lives across Africa and beyond.]
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