The World Health Organization, WHO, has announced that their new malaria vaccine, RTS,S, has proven to be safe and effective, reducing the number of severe cases and deaths in children residing in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi. 

After administering the vaccine to more than 1.6 million children, WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus spoke recently in New York of the positive outcome. Adding that the new vaccine also contributed to a fall in child deaths.

“As the first vaccine against malaria, the RTS,S vaccine has now been delivered to more than 1.6 million children in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi. It has been shown to be safe and effective, resulting in a substantial reduction in severe malaria and a fall in child deaths” Tedros announced.

Despite this being an important step forward in the battle against malaria, WHO Director of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals, Katherine O’Brien, warned that the rate of child deaths due to this disease was still persistently high. 

O’Brien emphasized the need to remember that every minute a child dies of malaria and the introduction of this new vaccine is just one tool in the toolbox of fighting against this severe health issue.

“I think it’s really important to remember nearly every minute a child dies of malaria, and the introduction of malaria vaccine as another tool, an additional tool in the toolbox to fight against the severe disease, the deaths that occur, is a really essential step forward” she said.

Sadly, UN studies have indicated that climate change is contributing to a higher number of mosquitoes carrying malaria-like diseases, further emphasizing the need for more effective strategies to combat the spread of malaria.