Ghana Approves Oxford Malaria Vaccine

APR 13 2023·Updated APR 14 2023

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Image credit: University of Oxford [via BBC]

The Facts

On Thursday, Ghana became the first country to approve a breakthrough malaria vaccine for children aged 5-36 months, the age group at the highest risk of death from the parasitic disease.
Reuters
Preliminary studies show the R21 vaccine — developed by Oxford University scientists — was up to 80% effective when given in three initial doses and a booster 12 months later.
BBC News
The vaccine contains Matrix-M, a saponin-based adjuvant used in Novavax’s COVID vaccine that boosts the antigen-specific immune system response.
The Star
Though widespread use of the R21 vaccine depends on the results of a final phase III trial involving nearly 5K children, the Serum Institute of India is preparing to produce up to 200M doses per year. Meanwhile, regulatory agencies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), have yet to approve it.
Reuters
In 2021, a vaccine by British drugmaker GSK became the first malaria vaccine to be recommended for widespread use by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, its effectiveness was about 60% — well below the WHO’s efficacy target of 75%.
Africanews
According to the latest WHO data, there were approximately 247M malaria cases and 619K deaths in 2021, with the African Region reporting about 95% of all malaria cases and 96% of deaths.
WHO

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The Spin

Narrative A

The R21 vaccine is a significant milestone in combating malaria, one of the world's biggest killers. It's a massive breakthrough for millions of Africans, including children and pregnant women, as it could help reduce malaria deaths by over 70%. The vaccine — a more powerful and less expensive version of GSK's— isn't perfect, but it will help turn the tide.

The Indian Express

Narrative B

While this is a step in the right direction and certainly a cause for celebration, unfortunately, it's not a silver bullet in the complex fight against malaria. Before the R21 vaccine is rolled out for wider use, there are important points to consider to meet the needs of countries with a high malaria burden, such as the amount of international funding available for its production and equitable distribution. Meanwhile, it's still lacking the WHO's endorsement. Cautious optimism is warranted as there's a long way to go.