Health
FOLLOWING the joint session of SAGE and the Malaria Policy Advisory Group, MPAG, to present evidence on the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine, WHO has today recommended the vaccine be used in children to prevent malaria in endemic areas.
The announcement means there are now two vaccines that can help meet the high demand from malaria-endemic regions of the world, and complement the range of existing malaria tools.
“The joint SAGE-MPAG recommendation to WHO of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine represents another major step towards our goal of creating a malaria-free life for every child,” said David Marlow, CEO, Gavi. “This vaccine, along with the existing RTS,S/AS01e vaccine, will be an effective complement to existing malaria interventions. Once it receives WHO prequalification, it will play a key role in meeting the high demand we are seeing in endemic countries.”
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance welcomes today’s announcement, which can help reshape the fight against malaria, a disease that, according to WHO data, killed 619,000 people globally in 2021. 96% of those deaths were in the Africa region, making malaria one of Africa’s biggest killers.
The announcement emphasises the key role these two vaccines and other interventions will play as the malaria community aims to advance its goals over the next decade. Alliance partners are already in conversation with countries about the potential rollout of a second vaccine as soon as 2024.
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-October 04, 2023 @ 10:55 GMT |
Tags: David Marlow WHO
