Home / Health / Malaria Vaccine Slashes Child Deaths in Africa
Malaria Vaccine Slashes Child Deaths in Africa
11 May
Summary
- World's first malaria vaccine reduced child deaths by 13%.
- RTS,S/AS01E vaccine found safe in large real-world study.
- Africa accounts for over 90% of global malaria cases.
A groundbreaking real-world study published in The Lancet has demonstrated that the RTS,S/AS01E malaria vaccine reduced overall child deaths by 13% in parts of Africa. This finding offers the strongest evidence to date that widespread immunization can substantially lower mortality rates among children in high-transmission regions.
The World Health Organization hailed the results as a major achievement, noting that children receiving the full four-dose course experienced a significant decline in all-cause mortality. The vaccine was also found to be safe, with no increased risk of serious adverse events, addressing earlier concerns.
This extensive assessment, involving over 1.2 million children, reinforces the impact of vaccination in endemic areas. While other malaria vaccines are recommended, RTS,S/AS01E and R21/Matrix-M are crucial for preventing Plasmodium falciparum malaria, prevalent in over 90% of Africa's global malaria burden.
Meanwhile, India has made significant strides against malaria, targeting zero cases by 2027 and elimination by 2030. Sustained surveillance and interventions are crucial to maintain these gains and combat local transmission risks.
