The World Health Organization has approved the malaria vaccine Mosquirix. This is the only approved vaccine as at 2021 and requires four injections. Mosquirix is the first vaccine that meets the WHO’s goal of a malaria vaccine with at least 75% efficacy.
The former President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama has expressed joy with the approval of the malaria vaccine years after several trails. “It is refreshing and promising to learn that our participation in the Malaria vaccine pilot programme has led to the approval of the vaccine to be deployed in sub-Saharan Africa and other malaria endemic regions” he stated on facebook.
The vaccine developed with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation is the recent most efficient vaccine for malaria. President Mahama continued that the prospects of vaccinating millions of African children who will be saved from avoidable deaths as a result of this scientific and public health breakthrough is elating.
“Thanks to Dr.Vasee Moorthy and his team at the World Health Organisation who responded favorably to Ghana’s expression of interest in the malaria vaccine programme in 2016.” A pilot project for vaccination was launched, on 30 April 2019 in Ghana whiles other Africa countries like Malawi and Kenya also had theirs launched the same year.
Dr.Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO has describe this as a historic moment. The vaccine was endorsed by the World Health Organization for “broad use” in children, making it the first malaria vaccine candidate to receive this recommendation.
