Experts say the world's first malaria vaccine could be approved for use in 2015.

Reporting in PLOS Medicine, researchers found that for every 1,000 children who received the vaccine, an average of 800 cases of illness could be prevented.

And in continuing trials it went on to provide protection some 18 months after the injections were given.

Manufacturers GSK have now applied for regulatory approval - making this the first vaccine to reach this step.

Malaria affects millions of people worldwide and results in 800,000 deaths each year - the majority in children under five who live in sub-Saharan Africa.

Early defence

In the most advanced trial to date, involving several African countries, 1,500 infants and children were given the RTS,S vaccine.

Revisiting them 18 months after the last injection, researchers found that in young children the vaccine almost halved the number of cases of malaria.

And for infants (who were aged six to 12 weeks at first vaccination) the drug reduced episodes of malaria by a quarter.

Though the effectiveness of the vaccine was seen to wane over time, the report suggests it may have the largest impact in areas with high rates of disease.

For example, in some Kenyan cities, 2,000 cases of clinical malaria were prevented for every 1,000 children who received the drug (people in this area are at risk of repeated infections).

GlaxoSmithKline has now asked the European Medicine's Authority to approve it for global use.

Booster doses

And the drug-makers say together with other preventative measures such as bed nets and insecticides, this could represent a huge step forward in malaria control.

Scientists are investigating whether a booster could further improve the chances of success.

Prof Sanjeev Krishna of St George's University of London who was not involved in the research but reviewed the paper for the journal said: "This is a milestone. The landscape of malaria vaccine development is littered with carcasses, with vaccines dying left, right and centre.

"To get to this stage is very encouraging indeed. We eagerly await the next results to see how long-lasting protection is and whether a booster adds further potential.

"We need to keep a watchful eye for adverse events but everything appears on track for the vaccine to be approved as early as next year."

Prof Brian Greenwood of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who was involved in the research, told the BBC: "To finally get a malaria vaccine licensed would be a huge leap forward.

"Though it does not provide 100% protection, for areas where malaria is commonplace this has the potential to have a real impact."

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is developing RTS,S with the non-profit Path Malaria Vaccine Initiative, supported by funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

http://m.bbc.com/news/health-28541939

Good.

kool

Long overdue!

That's a good news.

Can Adults take it?

finallyu we can throwaway all the coaloxuante,lumenfanthrine.. arethesuante.. like wtf with all them ACT and all.. more vaccines abi.. no to living on drugs..

Nice. Malaria will soon become history.

Abeg, na permanent solution to malaria we need. I so much hate Malaria. stil a gud developmnt though

[img]http://www.?aff=391[/img] [img]http:///?k_id=utibeokodi[/img]
At long last

macsika: Adults take it?

Yes.














The Adultrated vaccine

MOSQUITOES that carries parasites causing Malaria. I have a question to ask
What is the function of Mosquito in Ecosystem?

This can help in the time of emergency just look at We need this every body need this click on this link to see for yourself https://www.nairaland.com/1834606/1st-security-social-app-need

Nice to know..fingers crossed

We are getting there

Gud to know

gud findings I must say

this is not new in America. our leaders travel overseas to get this vaccine. hope it will work in Nigeria.

shadowwalker101: [img]http://www.?aff=391[/img] [img]http:///?k_id=utibeokodi[/img]
At long last

go home to mommy

Na malaria dem find vaccine for, nt ebola

Abeg, i dey fear dis ebola ooo,,,i have decided that nobody will shake,hug,touch me again even my pastor and gf.....

THE FEAR OF EBOLA IS D BEGINING OF LONG LIFE

malaria we know... What of Ebola?

Somthng needs to done fast

Thank God, dis is progress... Malaria is terrible.

By next year!! WOW!! Wonderful news!!!!

God,please bless bill gate and his wife for their support towards a better health care and every other person who contribute to free vaccination all over the world .
Teach our African leaders the importance of "a good name is better than silver or gold".

Good development from GSK, no wonder this companies live beyond their founders.

interesting

gbaskiboy: MOSQUITOES that carries parasites causing Malaria. I have a question to ask
What is the function of Mosquito in Ecosystem?

Very good question. Some other creatures like frogs feed on them but they also feed on other insects too, so mosquito esp. anopheles wc is the malaria carrier will not be missed if wiped out. I once saw a documentary on how 2 wipe out the anopheles mosquito by wiping out d X(female) chromosome in d male mosquito as they determine the sex of d mosquito so that they only reproduce male and eventually r wiped out. It was 90% successful in trial environments. Some pple were supporting it while some silly pple were complaining like"humans r very mean,why would u want 2 wipe out a specie?,it will affect the ecosysystem bla bla bla" like W.T.F. Malaria kills about 1million pple every year more than HIV esp children n u r worried about d insect instead of worrying about ur fellow humans. Sometimes this environmental concious pple can be really annoying,i guess most of d pple complaining were not from malaria affected places.

So happy to hear this..... Major advancement

Malaria udon pafuka

God bless the Gates.

Next week , A pastor in Lagos will claim to have the vaccine for malaria .
Nigerians and their love-vendor pastors won't find a vaccine for malaria but would find a cure for Ebola.
This is what developed countries do , it's called "RESEARCH", they do not wait for a miracle or a pastor to give them a cure .

Its been long over due. I expected d vaccine to have been included in d routined vaccine program in Nigeria since last year. A nice innovation, though. #ScienceRocks