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World's Second Malaria Vaccine Launched In Ivory Coast, Latest Milestone In Fight Against The Disease
The world's second vaccine against malaria was launched on Monday as the Ivory Coast began a routine vaccine program using shots developed by the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India.
The introduction of the World Health Organization (WHO)-approved R21 vaccine comes six months after the first malaria vaccine, called RTS,S and developed by British drugmaker GSK, began being administered in a routine program in Cameroon.
Some 15 African countries plan to introduce one of the two malaria vaccines this year with support from the Gavi global vaccine alliance.
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Ivory Coast has received a total of 656,600 doses of the Oxford and Serum shot, which will initially vaccinate 250,000 children aged between 0 and 23 months across the West African country. The vaccine has also been approved by Ghana, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and the Central African Republic.
The rollout of a second vaccine is the latest milestone in the global fight against malaria and should help address a problem that emerged well before either of the two shots was launched: demand for them is likely to far outstrip supply for several years.
Ivory Coast's Prime Minister Robert Beugre Mambe, center, attends the official ceremony for the launch of the malaria vaccination campaign for children aged between zero and eleven months in Abobo, a district of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on July 15, 2024. (Reuters/Luc Gnago)
Experts say having safe and effective malaria vaccines is important to meet demand. The shot is meant to work alongside existing tools - such as bed nets - to combat malaria, which in Africa kills nearly half a million children under the age of five each year.
The Serum Institute of India, which manufactures the vaccine, has produced 25 million doses for the initial rollout of the shot and "is committed to scaling up to 100 million doses annually", the company said on Monday about the launch in the Ivory Coast.
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Serum said it is offering the vaccine for less than $4 per dose, in keeping with its aim to deliver low-cost vaccines at scale.
Results from a large trial in February showed the vaccine prevented around three-quarters of symptomatic malaria cases in young children the first year after they got the shots.
Experts told Reuters at that time that comparing the two malaria vaccines head-to-head was difficult because of the many variables involved in the trials, but overall their performance was similar - a conclusion endorsed by WHO.
Second Malaria Vaccine Launched In Ivory Coast Marks New Milestone
LONDON —The world's second vaccine against malaria was launched on Monday as Ivory Coast began a routine vaccine program using shots developed by the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India.
The introduction of the World Health Organization (WHO)-approved R21 vaccine comes six months after the first malaria vaccine, called RTS,S and developed by British drugmaker GSK, began being administered in a routine program in Cameroon.
Some 15 African countries plan to introduce one of the two malaria vaccines this year with support from the Gavi global vaccine alliance.
Ivory Coast has received a total of 656,600 doses of the Oxford and Serum shot, which will initially vaccinate 250,000 children aged between 0 and 23 months across the West African country. The vaccine has also been approved by Ghana, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and the Central African Republic.
The rollout of a second vaccine is the latest milestone in the global fight against malaria and should help address a problem that emerged well before either of the two shots was launched: demand for them is likely to far outstrip supply for several years.
Experts say having safe and effective malaria vaccines is important to meet demand. The shot is meant to work alongside existing tools — such as bed nets — to combat malaria, which in Africa kills nearly half a million children under the age of five each year.
The Serum Institute of India, which manufactures the vaccine, has produced 25 million doses for the initial rollout of the shot and "is committed to scaling up to 100 million doses annually," the company said on Monday about the launch in Ivory Coast.
Serum said it is offering the vaccine for less than $4 per dose, in keeping with its aim to deliver low-cost vaccines at scale.
Results from a large trial in February showed the vaccine prevented around three-quarters of symptomatic malaria cases in young children the first year after they got the shots.
Experts told Reuters at that time that comparing the two malaria vaccines head-to-head was difficult because of the many variables involved in the trials, but overall their performance was similar — a conclusion endorsed by WHO.
India's Serum Institute And Oxford University Roll Out First Malaria Vaccine In Africa's Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast initiated a routine vaccination programme with the world's second malaria vaccine, R21, developed by the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India on Monday. This milestone comes six months after the introduction of the first malaria vaccine, RTS,S, created by British drugmaker GSK, in Cameroon.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has approved the R21 vaccine, which is now being rolled out in Ivory Coast. This country has received 656,600 doses, aimed at vaccinating 250,000 children aged between 0 and 23 months. The vaccine has also gained approval in Ghana, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and the Central African Republic. This marks a significant step forward in combating malaria, particularly in Africa, where the disease claims nearly half a million children under the age of five each year.
Support from Gavi Vaccine AllianceThis year, 15 African countries plan to introduce either the RTS,S, or R21 vaccines, with support from the Gavi global vaccine alliance. The rollout of these vaccines is essential as they are expected to complement existing malaria prevention tools, such as bed nets.
Malaria Vaccine
Production, Cost EfficiencyThe Serum Institute of India, responsible for manufacturing the R21 vaccine, has committed to producing 25 million doses for the initial rollout and aims to scale up production to 100 million doses annually. The vaccine is priced at less than $4 per dose, aligning with the Institute's goal of delivering affordable vaccines at scale.
Vaccine EfficacyIn a large trial conducted in February, the R21 vaccine showed promising results, preventing around three-quarters of symptomatic malaria cases in young children within the first year after vaccination. While comparing the two malaria vaccines directly is challenging due to various trial factors, experts agree that both vaccines perform similarly. This assessment is supported by WHO.
Malaria Vaccine
Addressing Vaccine DemandThe introduction of a second malaria vaccine is a crucial development in the global fight against the disease. However, experts caution that the demand for these vaccines will likely exceed supply for several years. Therefore, having safe and effective malaria vaccines is critical to meet the high demand and ensure a robust response to malaria.
In summary, the launch of the R21 vaccine in Ivory Coast represents a significant advancement in malaria prevention. It highlights the collaborative efforts of international health organisations, vaccine developers, and manufacturers in tackling one of Africa's most deadly diseases.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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