By: Ivanine Silva
A platform of African scientists took a “giant step” towards the eradication of malaria on the African continent, after 30 years of scientific research, whose efforts resulted in the approval of the first vaccine against the disease, by the WHO.
It is believed that the new vaccine will also have a major economic impact on African countries, given that the disease causes annual losses of 12 billion dollars to African countries.
Made by GlaxoSmithKline, the vaccine, the first to deal with a parasitic disease, showed 40 percent efficacy against Malaria in the first year and a 30 percent reduction in severe malaria.
Studies show that the vaccine can save 23,000 children per year and prevent 5.3 million new cases. The Mosquirix vaccine is given in four doses to children. Clinical trials were carried out in Kenya, Malawi and Ghana with more than 2.3 million doses administered.
Malaria is passed from the vector, the female capuchin mosquito (Anopheles), infected by the protozoan Plasmodium. The disease kills around 500,000 people a year, including 260,000 children under the age of five in sub-Saharan Africa.