Three-Dose Anti-Malaria Vaccine Set To Prevent Malaria In Nigeria and Africa
Malaria is a deadly disease that has claimed Millions of lives in Nigeria and Africa at large. Malaria is majorly caused by a parasite that infects the female anopheles mosquito which in turn feeds on humans and makes people they feed on get very sick with a severe fever, headache, shaking chills, etc.
Meanwhile, the University of Maryland Center For Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD) Researchers have discovered a triple-dose malaria vaccine, Plasmodium Falciparum Sporozoite (PfSPZ) vaccine for both children and adults who are exposed to malaria, The vaccine would be administered to people who are residing in areas where malaria is prevalent.
The National Allergy and Infectious Diseases Financed the Study and the findings of the study were published in Science and Translational Medicine. Meanwhile, according to Dr. Mark Gladwin, the Dean of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, the United Nations needs to adopt new strategies to achieve its sustainable development goals of reducing malaria and its death rate incidence of 90 percent in 2030.
However, 80 participants were used for a clinical trial, three doses of the plasmodium Falciparum Sporozoite (pfSPZ) vaccine were administered, 48 percent of vaccinated persons were measured to be infected after 6 months while 46 percent at a follow-up of 18 months.
According to the Director of the International Clinical Trials Unit in Malaria Research Group at CVD, Dr. Mathew Laurens, Study showed that the vaccine can be administered to persons infected with malaria and leaving in an endemic area and also provide protection, but it can be challenging and complicated as individuals have a certain immunity to malaria parasites which a particular vaccine can be administered to overcome it before the PFSPZ can be effective.
Dr. Mark added that innovative vaccines capable of providing a higher level and effective protection against malaria are also required to achieve sustainable goals. The World Health Organization approved the first vaccine in October (RTs, S/ASOI), and it was also confirmed to provide moderate protection against malaria.
The vaccine was assessed in two sessions, the first session which included 32 adults was carried out to ascertain the highest dose of the vaccine to ensure that it doesn’t have any negative effect, in the 2017 trial, 39 of 80 persons received the vaccine. Those who participated were all sound and healthy, between the ages of 21 and 40 years, and non-pregnant.
Researchers have made plans to carry out additional trials of the PfSPZ vaccine on children, pregnant women, travelers, and military personnel.
