The World Health Organization (WHO) has made a groundbreaking recommendation for the prevention of malaria in children by endorsing the new vaccine R21/Matrix-M. This recommendation follows rigorous assessments by the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation and the Malaria Policy Advisory Group. Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, announced the endorsement at the organization’s biannual meeting held from September 25 to 29.
Malaria is a global health concern, particularly affecting children in the African Region, where it claims nearly half a million young lives each year. The endorsement of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine marks a significant milestone in the fight against this ancient and deadly disease. Notably, this vaccine, developed by the University of Oxford and produced at scale by the Serum Institute of India, is only the second malaria vaccine to receive WHO approval.
The WHO also issued recommendations for new vaccines targeting dengue and meningitis, as well as immunization schedules and product recommendations for COVID-19. Key immunization programmatic recommendations were made for polio, the Immunization Agenda 2030, and recovering the immunization program.
The R21 vaccine joins the RTS, S/AS01 vaccine, which received WHO approval in 2021. Both vaccines have demonstrated safety and effectiveness in preventing malaria in children, promising a significant public health impact when deployed widely.
Dr. Ghebreyesus expressed the importance of this development: “Demand for the RTS,S vaccine far exceeds supply, so this second vaccine is a vital additional tool to protect more children faster, and to bring us closer to our vision of a malaria-free future.”
Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, emphasized the potential of this second vaccine for the continent: “This second vaccine holds real potential to close the huge demand-and-supply gap. Delivered at scale and widely rolled out, the two vaccines can bolster malaria prevention and control efforts, saving hundreds of thousands of young lives in Africa.”
Currently, 28 African countries have plans to introduce a WHO-recommended malaria vaccine into their national immunization programs. The Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has approved technical and financial support to facilitate the rollout of malaria vaccines in 18 countries.
The WHO anticipates the rollout of the RTS, S vaccine in select African countries in early 2024, followed by the availability of the R21 malaria vaccine in mid-2024.
Despite significant progress in Nigeria, the country still accounts for approximately 27% of the global burden of malaria cases. Dr. Moeti highlighted key factors contributing to Nigeria’s ongoing struggle with malaria, including its large population, suboptimal surveillance systems, insufficient funding, and health-seeking behavior patterns that often prioritize the private sector.