Another big advantage, the researchers say, is that the vaccine can be produced cheaply. A deal has already been struck with the Serum Institute of India – the world’s largest producer of vaccines – to produce more than 100 million doses annually.
Effective vaccines against malaria have been developed for more than a century. But this is difficult because the malaria parasite is difficult for the immune system to recognize. The parasite also changes shape during its life cycle. As a result, the human body has a hard time finding an appropriate response.
Last year, the World Health Organization (WHO) first gave the green light to the first malaria vaccine, which was developed by pharmaceutical giant GSK. Mosquirix, as the vaccine is called, is about 30 percent effective.
The vaccine requires up to four doses and protection wears off after a few months. The Oxford team believes its vaccine is more effective and could be rolled out much more widely. “We think the research results are the best yet,” said Adrian Hill of the Jennis Hill Research Institute at the University of Oxford. BBC News.
The team will begin the vaccine approval process in the coming weeks. Whether the vaccine can be used depends on the results of a larger trial involving 4,800 children. It will be held before the end of this year.
More than 400,000 people still die each year from malaria.
