New malaria vaccine offers hope to millions in Africa

By Kizito Makoye

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (AA) - Public health experts in Tanzania say the world's first ever malaria vaccine by UK’s Oxford researchers has brought hope to millions of people in Africa where thousands of children die from the disease every year.

“This is a very good development, the vaccine offers a glimmer of hope to children in Africa who are increasingly vulnerable to the deadly parasite disease,” said Fedros Okumu, a public health researcher at the Africa-based Ifakara Health Institute.

He said the new vaccine could be a game changer in the fight against malaria in Africa where health systems are burdened.

Researchers from Oxford University said Thursday booster jab of a new malaria vaccine has maintained a high level of protection against the killer disease.

According to the trial released Thursday, R21/Matrix-M vaccine, is raising hope in the fight against malaria which is responsible for the deaths of 627,000 people -- mostly children -- in 2020 alone.

Adrian Hill, a lead scientist at Oxford University, said the new vaccine is likely more effective than Mosquirix, a vaccine produced by the British drug maker GSK, in preventing the disease.

Zul Premji, a public health expert in Tanzania, expressed cautious optimism saying although the new development offers prospects for defeating malaria, its acceptability in communities and across health systems in Africa could prove a challenge.

“I think public awareness is still needed to educate people about safety and efficacy of these vaccines,” Premji told the Anadolu Agency.

According to him many people’s decisions on important public health issues are often driven by a complex myriad of negative perceptions.

Meanwhile, Okumu urged African countries to address systemic weaknesses in its health systems to control the spread of malaria.

“Effective vaccines could accelerate malaria control,” he said.

Gareth Jenkins, director of advocacy at British charity Malaria No More, tweeted: "Today’s R21 vaccine results from Oxford are another encouraging signal that, the world could end child deaths from malaria in our lifetime.”