It is the first vaccine in the world and the only one that is effective against malaria in children. This is the RTS, S vaccine. And so far, about 650,000 children in Malawi, Ghana and Kenya have benefited from it thanks to a pilot program that started two years ago. According to the World Health Organization, the vaccine had positive effects and led to lower mortality. An efficiency that gives hope to experts in the fight against malaria.
At four doses, the RTS vaccine has a success rate of 39% in children with uncomplicated malaria and 29% in those with a more severe form of the disease.
A positive result for Fred Osei-Sarpong, head of vaccinations at the WHO office in Ghana, but who must continue: “The challenge now is to see how we can administer the four doses to children. In Ghana, we have an immunization registry in place to ensure that all children who receive a first dose receive the next three injections. ”
And it’s urgent. With 229 million cases in 2019 and 400,000 deaths each year, malaria is still the leading cause of death, especially in Africa. The fight against the parasite has been slowed down by the Covid-19 pandemic. According to specialists, the malaria vaccine can be “a key” provided that other protective measures accompany it, believes Yacine Djibo, founder of NGO Speak Up Africa.
At the national level, it is important to continue to ensure that people can protect themselves by sleeping under impregnated mosquito nets, by going to health posts, at the first sign of fever, and really ensure that we continue to carry out all different efforts for both prevention and treatment of malaria. ”
Health experts will meet next October to decide on a broader use of the malaria vaccine around the world.
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