The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a recommendation for the use of a second malaria vaccine aimed at curbing the transmission of this life-threatening disease by certain mosquito species. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the announcement during a briefing in Geneva, emphasizing the importance of this milestone.
Tedros stated, “Almost exactly two years ago, WHO recommended the widespread use of the world’s first malaria vaccine, known as RTS,S. Today, it gives me great pleasure to announce that WHO is recommending a second vaccine called R21/Matrix-M to prevent malaria in children at risk of the disease.”
The R21/Matrix-M vaccine, developed by the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, is slated for rollout in early 2024 in specific African countries, with availability in other regions expected by mid-2024. Tedros noted that the vaccine doses are projected to cost between $2 and $4.
Furthermore, WHO is currently conducting a prequalification review of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine, a critical step that would grant it the WHO stamp of approval. This approval would facilitate procurement by GAVI, a global vaccine alliance, and UNICEF from the vaccine manufacturers.
Manufactured in large quantities by the Serum Institute of India and incorporating Novavax’s Matrix M adjuvant, the R21/Matrix-M vaccine represents a vital addition to malaria prevention efforts.
In addition to the malaria vaccine, WHO has recommended Takeda Pharmaceuticals’ vaccine, Qdenga, for the prevention of dengue in children aged six to 16 years residing in regions where the infection poses a substantial public health concern. Dengue, a viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes, is prevalent in tropical and subtropical climates.
Trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of Takeda’s vaccine against all four stereotypes of the dengue virus in individuals previously infected with dengue. However, there is ongoing uncertainty regarding its performance against stereotypes 3 and 4 in individuals with no prior infection.
Furthermore, WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization has recommended a simplified single-dose regimen for primary immunization with most COVID-19 vaccines. This approach aims to enhance the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccinations, particularly in areas where a significant portion of the population has previously been infected.
The agency also highlighted the flexibility of using monovalent or bivalent vaccines, as many countries lack access to monovalent vaccines targeting specific variants, such as the XBB.1.5 variant, which has been dominant in numerous regions this year.
