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The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine to fight high Plasmodium falciparum malaria in children.

What you should know about R21, the second malaria vaccine approved by WHO | Pulse Nigeria

Samson Toromade

<h3>Two years after the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine to fight high Plasmodium falciparum malaria, the organisation has recommended R21/Matrix-M for the prevention of malaria in children.</h3>

The recommendation, announced on October 2, 2023, was based on advice from WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation (SAGE) and the Malaria Policy Advisory Group (MPAG).

The organisation's director-general, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, also endorsed the new vaccine as safe and effective for preventing malaria after WHO's regular biannual meeting held from September 25 to September 29.

"The updated WHO malaria vaccine recommendation is informed by evidence from an ongoing R21 vaccine clinical trial and other studies," the organisation said in a statement.

The R21 vaccine is as cost-effective as other recommended malaria interventions [Thoko Chikondi]

RTS,S malaria vaccine has been recommended for use after two years of pilot tests [Thoko Chikondi]

The demand <a data-link-role-code="open_new_tab" href="https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/malaria-vaccine-in-nigeria-by-2024/jp9756n">for the RTS,S vaccine</a>, the first-ever approved malaria vaccine, <a data-link-role-code="open_new_tab" href="https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/malaria-vaccine-nigeria-not-on-list-12-african-countries-receive-doses/7qfzskm">already outpaces supply</a>, so the emergence of R21 is expected to have high public health impact.

In WHO's own words, here are the features of the R21 malaria vaccine.

Just like the RTS,S vaccine, the R21 malaria vaccine is also administered in a total of four doses consisting three primary doses and a fourth booster shot.

<h3>High efficacy when given just before the high transmission season</h3>

In areas where malaria transmission is largely limited to four or five months per year, the R21 vaccine was shown to reduce symptomatic cases of malaria by 75% during the 12 months following a three-dose series.

A fourth dose given a year after the third maintained efficacy.

<h3>Good efficacy when given in an age-based schedule</h3>

The vaccine showed good efficacy of 66% during the 12 months following the first three doses. A fourth dose a year after the third maintained efficacy.

Mathematical modelling estimates indicate the public health impact of the R21 vaccine is expected to be high in a wide range of malaria transmission settings, including low transmission settings.

At prices of $2 to $4 per dose, the cost-effectiveness of the R21 vaccine would be comparable with other recommended malaria interventions and other childhood vaccines.

The R21 vaccine was shown to be safe in clinical trials. As with other new vaccines, safety monitoring will continue.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a data-link-role-code="open_new_tab" href="https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/what-you-should-know-about-1st-ever-malaria-vaccine-just-approved-by-who/622kygj">What you should know about 1st ever malaria vaccine</a>

The next steps for the R21 malaria vaccine include completing the ongoing WHO prequalification which would enable international procurement of the vaccine for broader rollout. The vaccine is expected to become available to countries mid-2024.

The RTS,S malaria vaccine is administered in four doses [WHO/Fanjan Combrink]

What you should know about R21, the second malaria vaccine approved by WHO

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