Researchers at the Jenner Institute of Oxford University, UK, have developed the first malaria vaccine that meets international standards of effectiveness.
The vaccine showed up to 77% efficacy (the World Health Organization (WHO) requires a level of 75% effectiveness) in an African trial of 450 children in Burkina Faso - according to the latest WHO figures, more than 400,000 people a year die of malaria.
The findings from the phase two trial were based on previous work using mice, which showed a high immune response to the vaccine.
This Oxford team is the same as the one that was behind the Covid-19 AstraZeneca (AZ) jab.
Highlighting the value of investing in research, Gareth Jenkins, of Malaria No MoretoldThe Guardian: “The Jenner Institute’s groundbreaking work on both the AZ Covid-19 and malaria vaccine is a great example of this and demonstrates just how much humanity’s safety is dependent on new science.”
World Malaria Day 2021, was celebrated yesterday.