Cameroon has begun the world’s first major malaria vaccine program for children. The campaign launched Monday in the Central African nation. Health officials called the effort a momentous step in the fight against the disease across Africa. The continent accounts for about 95 percent of the world’s malaria deaths. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the disease, which is spread through mosquitos, kills more than 600,000 people a year. Most of the deaths involve young children.
The vaccine, called RTS.S, was developed by British drug company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). It is meant to work with other preventive measures, such as the use of bed nets, to fight the disease. Cameroon is the first country to offer vaccine injections (注射) through a routine program after successful tests, or trials, which were carried out in Ghana and Kenya. Cameroon hopes to vaccinate about 250,000 children this year and next.
Cameroon is using one of two recently approved malaria vaccines, called Mosquirix. When the WHO approved the vaccine two years ago, officials admitted it was not perfect. But they noted its use could sharply reduce severe infections and hospitalizations.
The GSK-produced shot is only about 30 percent effective. It requires four shots, or doses. Tests have shown the vaccine’s protection begins to weaken after several months. GSK has said it can only produce about 15 million doses of Mosquirix a year. Some experts believe a second malaria vaccine developed by Oxford University and approved by the WHO in October may be a better solution. That vaccine, called R21, is less costly and only requires three doses. Launching the second vaccine is expected to result in enough vaccine supply “to meet the high demand and reach millions more children,” said Kate O’Brien. She is the WHO’s director of vaccinations.
India’s Serum Institute — which helped develop the R21 vaccine — has said it could produce up to 200 million doses of it a year. Gavi has said that the vaccine could be launched in May or June.
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