In a historic first, the World Health Organization (WHO) on October 6 recommended the widespread use of the world's first-ever vaccine for malaria--RTS, S or Mosquirix-- among children in sub-Saharan Africa and other regions to curb the spread of the parasitic disease. The vaccine is developed by British pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline.
The British drugmaker committed to supplying up to 15 million doses per year. Also, the shot would not be priced more than 5% of the actual cost of production. The company would now work with partners, funders and governments to support the additional supply of the vaccine.
A child dies from #malaria every two minutes.
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) October 6, 2021
One death is one too many.
🚨 Today, WHO recommends RTS,S, a groundbreaking malaria vaccine, to reduce child illness & deaths in areas with moderate and high malaria transmission https://t.co/xSk58nTIV1#VaccinesWork pic.twitter.com/mSECLtRhQs
The recommendation from the global health body is based on the results from an ongoing pilot programme in Malawi, Ghana and Kenya. The vaccine has been administered to more than 8 lakh children since the programme began in 2019.
Speaking on the occasion, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, "This is a historic moment. The long-awaited malaria vaccine for children is a breakthrough for science, child health and malaria control. Using this vaccine on top of existing tools to prevent malaria could save tens of thousands of young lives each year."
"For centuries, malaria has stalked sub-Saharan Africa, causing immense personal suffering. We have long hoped for an effective malaria vaccine and now for the first time ever, we have such a vaccine recommended for widespread use. Today’s recommendation offers a glimmer of hope for the continent which shoulders the heaviest burden of the disease and we expect many more African children to be protected from malaria and grow into healthy adults," said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
About Mosquirix Vaccine
It is the world's first vaccine for malaria which is administered to children between the age of 6 weeks to 17 months to help protect them from parasitic disease-- malaria. The vaccine also provides protection against infection of the liver with the hepatitis B virus, but it should not be used only for this purpose, as per European Medicines Agency.
Background
Developed by GlaxoSmithKline in 1987, the vaccine failed on several fronts-- first, it required up to four doses and second, the immunity against the disease faded away after several months. However, scientists still believe that the vaccine could curb malaria in Africa.
In 2019, a large scale pilot programme was carried out in coordination with WHO. Around 2.3 million doses of Mosquirix have been administered to infants in several regions of Arica.
Usage of Mosquirix
A 0.5 ml injection is injected either in the thigh or around the shoulder. The child is administered three doses in three months while the fourth dose is administered after a gap of 18 months from the third dose. The vaccine can only be obtained through a prescription.
Mosquirix vaccine: How does it work?
The active ingredient in the Mosquirix vaccine is made up of proteins that are found on the surface of the Plasmodium falciparum parasites. When administered, the immune system acknowledges the foreign proteins and start making antibodies against them.
Efficacy of Mosquirix vaccine
The efficacy of the Mosquirix vaccine is 30% in children with severe cases of malaria. In 2015, the European Union's drugs regulator approved the Mosquirix vaccine as its benefits outweighed the risks. The global health body too stated that the side effects of the vaccine were rare, but sometimes included a fever that could result in temporary convulsions.
About Malaria
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites and is transmitted by the bites of infected mosquitoes.
Malaria symptoms
The symptoms of the fatal disease include fever, chills, headache, nausea and vomiting, muscle pain and fatigue, sweating, and headaches.
It is to be noted that it takes about 10-15 days for the symptoms to develop after the bite of the infected mosquito.
Diagnosis of Malaria
The disease can be diagnosed through a blood test. According to the recommendations made by WHO, one should undergo parasite-based clinical testing, and if the test is unavailable, the disease can be detected via observing the symptoms.
Malaria treatment
The global health body recommends the use of Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) for treating falciparum malaria and Chloroquine-based therapy for vivax malaria. Along with removing the parasite from the bloodstream, these treatments are highly effective.
Malaria prevention
Below steps can be followed to prevent malaria:
1- Apply or plugin mosquito repellents.
2- Wear full-sleeved clothes.
3- Keep your surroundings clean and do not allow water to stagnate.
4- Fogging must be done on a regular basis.
5- In mosquito-infested regions, keep doors and windows closed.
6- Use mosquito nets while sleeping.
Malaria in Africa
Malaria, caused by the parasite Plasmodium Falciparum, is a fatal disease in Africa. The symptoms of malaria include fever, vomiting and fatigue. According to the estimates by WHO, 94% of malaria cases and deaths occur in Africa.
With the rollout of the world's first malaria vaccine, a 30% reduction in the cases is expected to be witnessed with up to 8 million fewer cases and as many as 40,000 fewer deaths per year.
Also Read| What is Plasmodium Ovale Malaria?
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