Updated By: LatestGKGS Desk
Malawi Launches World’s First Malaria Vaccine 'Mosquirix'
Malawi Launches World’s First Malaria Vaccine 'Mosquirix': Details, Highlights, Significance
Malawi has launched the world’s first Malaria vaccine named as 'Mosquirix' or "RTS, S" on the occasion of the World Malaria Day on 25th April 2019.
Malawi is one of three countries in Africa in a landmark pilot programme coordinated by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The other two African countries are Ghana and Kenya.
This Malaria vaccine was created by British Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in 1987 and after that vaccine has undergone 30 years of testing which was supported by many organizations including a non-profit organization PATH. This pilot project aims to reach 360,000 children per year in all three countries.
The malaria vaccine will be provided to children up to 2 years of age and it will be given in a total of 4 doses, first, three doses between five and nine months of age and the fourth doses will be given around 2nd birthday.
During the 30 years of clinical trials, scientists had found that the vaccine prevents approximately 4 out of 10 malaria cases, including 3 out of 10 cases of life-threatening severe malaria.
This is a collaborative effort of WHO with health ministries of Ghana, Kenya and Malawi and other international partners which include PATH, GSK, the vaccine developer and manufacturer.
This pilot project is financed by three key global health funding bodies: Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and Unitaid and other organization like The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is also a funder of the vaccine.
