New, cheaper malaria vaccine wins WHO approval

A new vaccine against malaria has been recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO for mass immunization.

The R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine, developed by the University of Oxford, is the second malaria vaccine to receive WHO recommendation and is the first to achieve the WHO's target of 75% efficacy, The Guardian reports. 

Malaria remains a major global health threat, causing half a million deaths each year, with a disproportionate impact on children under five and pregnant women.

While the RTS,S vaccine was the first malaria vaccine approved by the WHO in 2021, its availability is limited.

The Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer by doses, is already prepared to produce over 100 million doses annually, with plans to increase production to 200 million doses per year. #

This increased supply is anticipated to accelerate efforts to protect vulnerable populations from malaria.