03 Oct WHO recommends R21/Matrix-M vaccine for use against malaria
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended a new vaccine, R21/Matrix-M, for the prevention of malaria in children.
The global health body in a press statement released on Monday said the recommendation follows advice from its Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation and the Malaria Policy Advisory Group.
The new vaccine, R21/Matrix-M vaccine is the second vaccine against malaria to be approved, after the RTS,S vaccine which was approved in 2021.
WHO said demand for the limited-availability RTS,S vaccine has been “unprecedented,” and the addition of the second vaccine is expected to meet the demand and provide sufficient vaccine supply “to benefit all children living in areas where malaria is a public health risk.”
The statement reads in part; “The R21 vaccine is the second malaria vaccine recommended by WHO, following the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine, which received a WHO recommendation in 2021.
“Both vaccines are shown to be safe and effective in preventing malaria in children and, when implemented broadly, are expected to have high public health impact.”
WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, said demand for the RTS,S vaccine far exceeds supply.
Mr Ghebreyesus said this second vaccine is a vital additional tool to protect more children faster and to “bring us closer to our vision of a malaria-free future.”
“As a malaria researcher, I used to dream of the day we would have a safe and effective vaccine against malaria. Now we have two,” he said.
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