A New Era in the Fight Against Malaria: Vaccine Rollout Begins in Cameroon
For malaria expert Brian Greenwood, the moment he’s spent four decades working towards has finally arrived. At 86 years old, Greenwood, who is still an active researcher at the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, has seen the journey to develop a successful malaria vaccine filled with numerous challenges and setbacks.
“It’s been a long journey with many ups and downs. The first attempts to develop a malaria vaccine through studies in birds were done over 100 years ago.”
Today marks a significant milestone as Cameroon, a Central African nation heavily burdened by malaria, begins administering the RTS,S vaccine, manufactured by pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline. The vaccine targets sporozoites, the transmissible forms of the malaria parasite, neutralizing them before they can enter the liver and multiply.
The Impact of Malaria in Cameroon
Malaria has a devastating impact on Cameroon’s healthcare system, with 48 percent of all hospital admissions and 67 percent of childhood deaths linked to the disease. The introduction of the RTS,S vaccine offers hope in alleviating this considerable burden.
“The impact of this vaccine goes beyond the medical benefits examined in clinical trials. Malaria is a major reason for school absenteeism, anemia, and impaired cognitive development. This vaccine can help break the cycle of adversity plaguing our youth for a long time.”
Mohammed Abdulaziz, head of disease control and prevention at Africa CDC, emphasizes the far-reaching benefits of the vaccine beyond its direct medical impact.
The Ongoing Battle Against Malaria
Despite efforts to eradicate mosquitoes carrying the deadly Plasmodium falciparum parasite and the use of protective measures like nets and insecticide-coated walls, malaria claimed 608,000 lives in 2022, according to the World Health Organization. Young children, whose immune systems are still developing, are the most vulnerable, with a child under 5 dying from malaria nearly every minute, as reported by UNICEF.
Expanding Vaccine Access
The rollout of the RTS,S vaccine is expected to expand rapidly, with 12 African countries set to receive a combined total of 18 million doses
6 Comments
So we’re finally tackling malaria head-on, kids first? Impressive move!
Finally, some good news for a change, here’s to hoping it turns the tide against malaria!
Malaria’s met its match with this vaccine, but can we keep the momentum
A giant leap in global health, but will Big Pharma play nice
Science for the win, but how long until everyone can get their shot
A new dawn in the fight against malaria, with kids leading the charge!