RTS,S malaria vaccine pilots in three African countries

For the pilot studies, vaccine manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline is providing up to 10 million doses of the vaccine, the countries' ministries of health will lead the vaccine introduction through their national immunisation programmes, and WHO will provide scientific and technical leadership. The vaccine will be given to young children starting at 5 and 6 months of age and up to 2 years, in areas where malaria is high burden and young children are at highest risk of dying from the disease, in four doses, Felicitas Zawaira, Director of Family and Reproductive Health in the WHO African Region, said at a press conference on April 23. The vaccine could also help to accelerate the realisation of the WHO Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016–2030, which aims to reduce the incidence of malaria by at least 90%, reduce malaria mortality rates by at least 90%, eliminate malaria in at least 35 countries, prevent a resurgence of malaria in all countries that are malaria-free, achieve near-term milestones for 2020 (including reductions in related incidence and mortalities of at least 40%) and the elimination of malaria in at least ten countries, and harness innovation and expand research.