Children across most parts of Africa are to be vaccinated against malaria in a historic move against fighting the tropical disease. Malaria has been one of the biggest scourges of humanity for decades and mostly kills babies and infants in Africa.
Having a vaccine after more than a century of trying – is among medicine’s greatest achievements.
The vaccine, called ‘RTS,S’ was proven effective six years ago. Now, after the success of pilot immunisation programmes in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi, the World Health Organization says the vaccine should be rolled out across sub-Saharan Africa and in other regions with moderate to high malaria transmission.
Director-General of WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanon Ghebreyesus, said it is a historic moment”. “The long-awaited malaria vaccine for children is a breakthrough for science, child health and malaria control. He said it could save tens of thousands of young lives each year.”
