Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli occupation forces bombing the Gaza Strip
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Ceasefire in Gaza takes effect
The Kremlin: Negotiations toward a settlement in Ukraine are currently at a complete standstill
Abu Mujahid: The steadfastness of the Palestinian people and the Resistance thwarted the displacement plan and allowed us to secure the best possible terms in an agreement to halt the genocidal war
Abu Mujahid: We salute whosoever made sacrifices in support of the Palestinian people, foremost among them the martyred Sayyed Nasrallah and Sayyed Safieddine, as well as the people of Yemen and Iran
Abu Mujahid, head of the media office of the Popular Resistance Committees, to Al Mayadeen: The people of Gaza have sacrificed and given their most precious offerings for the Al-Aqsa Flood
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Israeli artillery shelling targeted Khan Younis and the al-Bureij and al-Maghazi refugee camps
Captives may be released as early as Saturday and by Monday at the latest: Source briefed on the details of the agreement.
Netanyahu set to convene security cabinet at 1500 (1200GMT) and government at 1600 (1300GMT) to approve the deal: Source briefed on the details of the agreement
Within the first 24 hours, the Israeli military will complete the first phase of partial withdrawal: Source briefed on the details of the agreement

WHO Approves First Malaria Vaccine

  • By Al Mayadeen
  • Source: Agencies
  • 6 Oct 2021 20:24
3 Min Read

The World Health Organization endorsed the first malaria vaccine, presenting a way that could save the lives of children in Africa each year.

  • x
  • WHO Approves the First Malaria Vaccine
    GlaxoSmithKline's new vaccine stimulates a child's immune system to combat Plasmodium falciparum

The World Health Organization approved the first malaria vaccine on Wednesday, launching a tool that might save the lives of tens of thousands of African children each year.

Malaria is one of the oldest and deadliest infectious diseases. It kills about 500,000 people per year, virtually all of whom are in Sub-Saharan Africa, including 260,000 children under the age of five.

GlaxoSmithKline vaccine

GlaxoSmithKline's new vaccine stimulates a child's immune system to combat Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest of five malaria infections and the most common in Africa. The vaccine is not just the first for malaria; it is also the first for any parasite disease.

In clinical studies, the vaccine had a first-year efficacy of about 50% against severe malaria, but by the fourth year, it had decreased close to zero.

Furthermore, the trials did not assess the vaccine's effectiveness in reducing mortality, prompting some experts to question if it is a viable investment in countries with a plethora of other intractable issues.

However, severe malaria accounts for up to half of the malaria deaths and is regarded as a “reliable proximal indication of mortality,” according to Dr. Mary Hamel, who oversees the World Health Organization's malaria vaccine implementation program, adding that "I do expect we will see that impact."

Related News

Cholera outbreak in Sudan affects 113,600+, kills 3000+

WHO vows to stay in Gaza, appalled by 'Israel’s' evacuation order

2020 study findings

A modeling study revealed last year that if the vaccine were distributed to malaria-endemic nations, it might save 5.4 million infections and 23,000 deaths in children under the age of five per year.

A recent trial of the vaccine in combination with preventive medications given to children during high-transmission seasons revealed that the dual approach was far more efficient than either option alone in preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death.

The availability of a malaria vaccine that is safe, reasonably effective, and ready for distribution is a "historic event," according to Dr. Pedro Alonso, director of the WHO's global malaria program.

Parasites are far more complex than viruses or bacteria, and the search for a malaria vaccine has been ongoing for over a century, he added. “It’s a huge jump from the science perspective to have a first-generation vaccine against a human parasite.”

Vaccine research 

Vaccine candidates that never made it past clinical trials litter the landscape of malaria research. Bed nets, the most widely used preventive strategy, reduced malaria fatalities in children under the age of five by approximately 20% only.

Against this backdrop, some scientists believe that the new vaccine, despite its modest efficacy, is the best new advance in the fight against the illness in decades.

“Progress against malaria has really stalled over the last five or six years, particularly in some of the hardest-hit countries in the world,” said Ashley Birkett, head of the malaria programs at PATH, a nonprofit organization focused on global health.

With the new vaccine, “there’s potential for very, very significant impact there,” Dr. Birkett said.

Gavi, the global vaccination alliance, will then assess whether the vaccine is a worthy investment. If the organization's board of directors accepts the vaccine — which is unlikely given the vaccine's moderate efficacy and the organization's many competing priorities — Gavi will acquire the vaccine for nations who request it, a process that is expected to take at least a year.

  • World Health Organization
  • GlaxoSmithKline
  • Africa
  • Malaria

Most Read

Tucker Carlson speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AP)

Tucker Carlson: Israeli officers gave orders on Iran inside Pentagon

  • Politics
  • 2 Oct 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder revealed

Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder exposed

  • Politics
  • 5 Oct 2025
The Palestinian resistance and the people of Gaza showed that after combating Israeli aggression for two years, they remain victorious in the face of oppression (Mahdi Rteil/Al Mayadeen English)

Al-Aqsa Flood two years on, a tale of victory

  • Politics
  • 6 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
In Five

Read Next

All
ap
Politics

Mistrust paralyzes Washington as shutdown drags on for 9th day

Senate rejects bid to curb Trump’s military power in Caribbean
Politics

Senate rejects bid to curb Trump’s military power in Caribbean

ap
Politics

UN to slash peacekeeping operations as US funding cuts take effect

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, right, applauds after delivering a speech at the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Politics

Spain passes decree formalizing full arms embargo on 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS