In a groundbreaking move, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has endorsed a second malaria vaccine, potentially providing countries with a more affordable and readily available alternative to the first shot against the parasitic disease. The R21/Matrix-M, developed by Oxford University in the UK, has been deemed suitable for curbing the life-threatening disease transmitted by certain mosquitoes, as announced by WHO on Monday.
[block_2]
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed his excitement about having two safe and effective malaria vaccines, highlighting the significance of this development. The R21/Matrix-M vaccine, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, has already gained approval for use in Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Nigeria. The vaccine is set to be rolled out in those African countries in early 2024, with availability in other regions expected by mid-2024. Tedros mentioned that the vaccine doses would be priced between $2 to $4.
