Original title: who recommended that some areas be widely vaccinated with the first malaria vaccine
Xinhua news agency, Geneva, October 6 (reporter Liu Qu) - on the 6th, the World Health Organization recommended that children in sub Saharan Africa and other areas at high risk of malaria transmission be widely vaccinated with the world's first malaria vaccine RTS, S.
RTS, s malaria vaccine was developed by GlaxoSmithKline. More than 2.3 million doses of RTS, s vaccine have been vaccinated to more than 800000 children in three pilot countries, Ghana, Kenya and Malawi, who said in a communique released on the 6th. Based on the results of these vaccinations, who proposed to widely vaccinate the vaccine in some areas.
The data show that in the above three pilot countries, more than two-thirds of children who do not sleep in insecticide treated mosquito nets benefit from RTs and s vaccines; Even in areas with widespread use of insecticide treated nets and good access to diagnosis and treatment, the vaccine has reduced fatal severe malaria infections by about 30 per cent. Who said that RTs and s vaccines showed good safety and had no negative impact on children's vaccination or febrile disease prevention and control measures.
Who therefore recommends that children in sub Saharan Africa and other areas at high risk of malaria transmission be widely vaccinated with RTS and s vaccine in four doses to reduce their risk of malaria.
Who director general Tan Desai said at a press conference on the 6th that "this long-awaited malaria vaccine is a breakthrough in science, child health and malaria control". On the basis of existing tools, using RTs and s vaccines to prevent malaria can save tens of thousands of lives every year.
Who data show that malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites, which is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, but malaria can be prevented and treated. In 2019, there are an estimated 229 million malaria cases worldwide, including 409000 deaths. Malaria is the main disease of children in sub Saharan Africa. More than 260000 African children under the age of 5 die of malaria every year. (end)