Malaria vaccine no longer a seeming miracle

A new malaria vaccine is being tested in seven countries in Africa including Kenya. It was developed to reduce clinical and severe malaria in children.

“By 2015 we should have a first generation vaccine that will prevent 50 percent of cases of severe malaria,” said Dr. Lucas Otieno a researcher from the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) during the outsmart malaria journalists’ symposium at Internews.

The vaccine developed by GlaxoSmithKline and known only as RTS, S –will be used together with other childhood vaccines. 

An estimated 34,000 children, from Kenya, under five years die from malaria every year.

According to the New England Journal of Medicine the vaccine is set to fail after results from the phase two trials showed that its efficacy reduces over time. ‘The vaccine’s effect wears off over time and disappears fastest in children who are most exposed to malaria,’ it said.

So far a total 15460 infants between 6 to 12 weeks of age have been involved in the trial.

“Even though you don’t get immediate results there are benefits that come with research for the community and the organizations that support the research,” reassured Dr. Otieno.