Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s Post

The world now has two safe and effective #malaria vaccines that have shown remarkable results. 🌍 💉 In places where the first malaria vaccines have been administered in young children, all-cause mortality has declined by 13%, meaning that children who are free from severe malaria infection also avoid other illnesses that claim lives in these vulnerable communities. The continued rollout of malaria vaccines across Africa will be a critical step in driving down deaths, protecting millions of children, and moving closer toward #ZeroMalaria. #WorldMosquitoDay #EndMalaria African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, The Global Fund, Malaria Consortium, Malaria No More UK, Medicines for Malaria Venture, PATH, PMI Impact Malaria, RBM Partnership to End Malaria, Target Malaria, United to Beat Malaria, USAID

The world now has two safe and effective vaccines working alongside other interventions to protect communities and #endmalaria. The vaccines raise hope for malaria control but, as outlined by The Lancet, there are challenges: Addressing vaccine hesitancy, engaging with communities and securing investments are key parts of addressing barriers to vaccine access. These hurdles require partnerships and meaningful collaboration with communities. We’re committed to continue working with partners World Health Organization, UNICEF, GSK, Unitaid, The Global Fund, MedAccess, PATH and USAID, as well as with Civil Society Organisations to engage communities. By joining forces, we can fight one of Africa’s deadliest diseases.  

Thank you, Lord! Our latest article on the Oxford's R21/Matrix-M vaccine has been published in one of the world's leading journals of malaria, the Malaria journal. In Nigeria, malaria isn't just a disease condition; it's practically a household name for every symptom. Many families self-diiagnose and attempt to treat this condition. But here's a game-changer we're excited about! The R21/Matrix-M™ Malaria Vaccine, a collab between Oxford University and Novavax. For instance, in 2021, over 247 million people got sick, and 600,000 died from malaria in 85 countries. Thankfully, the World Health Organization (WHO) is giving a go-ahead to this vaccine, and it's something we're excited about. This new vaccine, like RTS,S, brings hope in the fight against malaria. It showed 77% effectiveness in tests. In addition, it's relatively cheap and suitable for use in younger age groups. Collectively, we are a step closer to a world without malaria. #Malaria #Vaccine #R21MatrixM #WHO #HealthHeroes #globalhealth

The historic launch of #malaria vaccine introduction in Cameroon today marks the first introduction of a Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance-supported malaria vaccine in Africa and another milestone for PATH’s work with partners to bring RTS,S/AS01 to young children at risk in Africa. It’s been more than 20 years since PATH entered into a collaboration with GSK to advance RTS,S through late-stage development. Recommended by the World Health Organization in 2021 and prequalified in 2022, RTS,S continues to make history and to pave the way for other malaria vaccines. The R21/Matrix-M vaccine was recommended and prequalified by WHO in late 2023, relying in part on evidence generated by RTS,S clinical trials and pilot implementations. In Cameroon, young children from 6 months of age in 42 health districts will benefit from the vaccine introduction. This video about the pilot program results in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi illustrates just how great that impact can be: https://bit.ly/48J0e5E

https://lnkd.in/d6PhGwB9 New fronts are opening in the war against malaria After years of stalemate, ground-breaking vaccines and better nets are raising hopes May 30th 2024 Millions of parents in Africa know the worry of caring for a child with malaria. Many know the grief of losing one. But two new vaccines give hope. The first, rts,s/as01, has been tried on nearly 2m children in Kenya, Ghana and Malawi since 2019, and is being used in seven more countries this year. The second, r21/Matrix-m, which is being made in larger volumes at less than half the price, started shipping on May 24th to the Central African Republic.

Malaria Vaccines In a report released by WHO in 2022, around 70% of the global malaria burden is concentrated in 11 countries: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, India, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Uganda, and, Tanzania all being African countries except India. With the phased roll-out of the first malaria vaccine RTS,S/AS01 in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi associated with reductions in severe cases and a 13% decrease in early childhood deaths. A second malaria vaccine, R21/Matrix-M, was recommended by WHO in 2023 and is expected to increase broad-scale vaccine supply in high-burden areas. While the search for more efficacious vaccines continues, it should also be noted that a lot of research is going on with natural plants which can provide a better source of management against this plaguing disease. I am Joe Vekima, passionate about Malaria research. #MCBL #Malaria_Vaccine #University_Of_Buea

MALARIA IN GUYANA 65,000 cases in 1995 down to 20,000 cases in 2023 Can this FIRST OF A KIND Malaria vaccine bring it down even further? The name of the vaccine is "Mosquirix" or "RTS,S/ASO1" or "R21/Matrix-M". 13% drop in mortality from Malaria & a decrease in severe hospitalisations. As of Oct 2023, WHO recommends (considered safe & pre-qualified) this malaria vaccine for children in high-transmission areas for the prevention of P.falciparum to be given in a schedule of 5 doses. High-transmission areas are priority but low-transmission areas can also benefit based on country decision. This vaccine should be considered within the context of the country's national plan for Malaria. 

Exciting news! South Sudan has officially launched the #R21 malaria #vaccine, marking a significant milestone in the battle against this deadly disease. Over the past few weeks, I've been working hard to raise awareness about the #R21 vaccine's launch and uptake across #Africa, and I'm thrilled that South Sudan is now part of this life-saving initiative. While the Anopheles mosquito is the primary carrier of #malaria, it's important to note that there are other types of mosquito-borne illnesses, such as #denguefever, which require different treatment approaches. Malaria remains a major #publichealth challenge in South Sudan, with children under five being particularly vulnerable. This is why it's crucial to spread the word about the #R21 vaccine – a safe and effective tool that can shield these children from malaria's devastating effects. The collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Health, UNICEF, the World Health Organization, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance are instrumental in ensuring this vaccine reaches those who need it most. This rollout is a critical step towards safeguarding the health of South Sudan's children and saving countless lives. I encourage everyone to learn more about the R21 malaria vaccine and support this important initiative. Olutoun S.

🌍 World Malaria Day - April 25 🦟 Today, we stand united in the fight against malaria. On #WorldMalariaDay, we’re proud to play a role in several malaria vaccine projects at the University of Oxford, based on antigens produced in ExpreS2ion’s proprietary ExpreS2 production platform. 🧬💉 🔬 University of Oxford is now sponsoring more than six different clinical Phase I and Phase II trials based on ExpreS2-made antigens at clinical centers both in the UK and Africa, aiming to develop one or more novel vaccines against blood-stage malaria and transmission-blocking malaria. All in line with WHO’s target of making preventable and maybe curable interventions in malaria risk areas. 🚀 Together, we’re not just developing vaccines; we’re nurturing hope for millions affected by malaria. Let’s continue to support research and innovation on this #WorldMalariaDay. 🌐✨ #EndMalaria #MalariaVaccine #GlobalHealth

Cameroon starts world-first malaria mass vaccine rollout The world's first routine vaccine programme against malaria has started in Cameroon, in a move projected to save thousands of children's lives across Africa. Every year 600,000 people die of malaria in Africa, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Children under five make up at least 80% of those deaths. Cameroon is offering the RTS,S vaccine free of charge to all infants up to the age of six months old. Patients require a total of four doses. Health officials say these will be given at the same time as other routine childhood vaccines to make it easier for parents. It comes after successful pilot campaigns in Kenya, Ghana and Malawi - where the vaccine caused a 13% drop in malaria deaths in children of eligible age, says Unicef. https://lnkd.in/gZqPjK_x