Mosquirix vaccine

January 24, 2024

The rollout of the world’s first malaria vaccine ‘Mosquirix’ began in Cameroon, which is said to be a “transformative chapter in Africa’s public health history”.
- Cameroon recorded more than 6m cases in 2022 and malaria accounted for 12% of deaths among children under five in 2021.
Also called the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine – 662,000 doses of it – will be administered to children in the west African country, the first to be vaccinated.
- The GlaxoSmithKline-produced shot is only about 30% effective, requires four doses and protection begins to fade after several months.
- It is a World Health Organization (WHO) approved vaccine.
- The vaccine was tested in Africa and used in pilot programs in three countries- Ghana, Kenya and Malawi between 2019 and 2021.
- 95% of deaths from the malaria occur in Africa.
It is made up of proteins of the Plasmodium falciparum parasites and the hepatitis B virus.
- The parasite, Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for causing malaria.
A second malaria vaccine, R21/Matrix-M, produced by the University of Oxford, is due to be rolled out later this year.
- It is cheaper, requires three doses and India’s Serum Institute say they could make up to 200 million doses a year.