Malaria vaccine may be available in 2012

by anamika.mis15 | December 9, 2008 at 02:38 am

117 views | 8 Recommendations | 4 comments

Nearly One million people are killed every year by malaria.Although half of the world's population lives in areas where malaria is rampent, and these are worlds poorest countries.The launch of the vaccine of malaria is new hope for the millions of people across the world.

But the mosquito is known for its quick adoption and resistance development, how this vaccine will catter the problem time will tell.

A vaccine against the parasitic disease malaria cut illnesses by more than half in field trials and could be safely given with other childhood inoculations, two studies have reported. The vaccine, which will begin a third and final phase of clinical trials early next year, could become the first to protect children from malaria, which kills nearly 1 million people worldwide every year.

The studies, published online Monday in the New England Journal of Medicine, were reported at a New Orleans meeting of tropical medicine researchers and were hailed as a significant breakthroughin the fight against one of the most intractable and deadly infectious diseases.

I wonder how this vaccine can work since mozzies are becoming more and more resistant against anti-malaria profilaxes. And even with a good profylax, you still have a chance of contracting the disease. Dad takes his pills religiously, yet he got malaria twice over the past half a year.

Also - will the vaccine be cheap enough? The majority of people at risk, live in poor countries like the DRC and Zambia. If the aim is really to prevent a million deaths, this vaccine needs to be not only affordable but also be made available through roll outs.

Look at for instance the vaccine against neonatal tetanus, which costs 7 dollar cents per dose. The vaccine is very reliable, yet 140 000 babies and 30 000 women die each year smply because governments do not see it as a priority to immunize ...

My point is: If the vaccine will not be made very affordable and accessible through roll outs, one might as well stop the clinical trials. Why developing a vaccine if those at risk do not have access to it?

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Miriam Mannak

at 02:46 on December 9th, 2008

anamika.mis15

at 02:53 on December 9th, 2008

Thanks Miriam,

your point is very true,the cost of vaccine is very high,every people cant afford this,but it will help many more peoples

Amitjha

at 03:02 on December 9th, 2008

These are some valid research that requires huge funding, but i doubt the pharma company will allow it to happen soon.

at 03:07 on December 9th, 2008

Hope for the best.

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Malaria vaccine may be available in 2012

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