A cheap malaria vaccine developed with the help of UK scientists has been approved for use. It could help to reduce the 500,000 malaria-associated deaths that occur each year.
The World Health Organisation has approved a low-cost, readily available vaccine for malaria that promises to help ease one of the greatest disease burdens on the developing world., developed by the University of Oxford, the Serum Institute of India and drug maker Novavax, could help reduce the 500,000 malaria-associated deaths that occur each year.Although the WHO concluded R21 has similar levels of efficacy as RTS,S the new vaccine is expected to be cheaper and should be more widely available.
Cost and availability are both crucial factors for a vaccine being deployed chiefly in sub-Saharan Africa, where there are nearly 250 million cases of malaria each year. The approval of the vaccine follows 30 years of work on malaria at the Jenner Institute. The same lab developed an effective COVID-19 vaccine in less than a year.The disease is caused by a protozoan parasite, a single-celled organism with multiple life stages, each evolved to evade the immune response.
Compared to some vaccines against infectious diseases like measles or polio, malaria vaccines aren't good enough to prevent transmission.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Scottish golfer Robert MacIntyre leads Ryder Cup teammates in 500 Miles singalongSCOTTISH golfer Robert MacIntyre was filmed leading a singalong to a classic Proclaimers song following Europe’s win at the Ryder Cup.
Read more »
500 Words 2023: Everything you need to knowBBC 500 Words 2023 is open for entries from 26 September - 10 November. Check here for information on who our judges are, competition rules and more.
Read more »
Channel Migrants: More than 500 migrants cross at the eekendThe Home Office said 565 people crossed in ten boats, as the figure for the year approaches 25,000.
Read more »
Grieving brother astonished after balloon for sister ends up 500 miles awayLevi O'Malley, 33, released a memorial balloon in memory of his sister Scarlett, 27, who passed away in April 2021.
Read more »