Malaria Vaccine Underway

The world’s first malaria vaccine could protect millions of young children against the deadly parasites, says researchers.

13:12 28 April 2015

A GlaxoSmithKline vaccine, which has been found to be partially effective, could be used to protect about one-third of children around the world against the deadly parasites, says researchers.

 

Brian Greenwood of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the study's lead author, said: "Everyone accepts that this is not the perfect or the last malaria vaccine.”

 

"It's not good enough to stop transmission but it will cut the huge burden of disease."

 

Referring to over 200 million cases of malaria every year, he added: "Preventing some of those attacks is not insignificant.” 

 

The vaccine study involved 15,500 babies and toddlers in Africa; one group was given three doses while the second group got a booster shot and the third group got dummy shots. The children, who used a mosquito bed net, were followed up to four years. 

 

Overall, the vaccine was about 30per cent effective in those who got three doses and a booster shot but the protection waned over time.

 

It was 26per cent effective in babies and up to 36per cent effective in 5-17 months infants.