News

Millions more children to benefit from world’s first malaria vaccine: UNICEF |


The landmark award, worth up to $170 million, will lead to the delivery of 18 million doses of the RTS,S vaccine over the next three years, potentially saving thousands of children’s lives annually.

Malaria remains one of the leading killers of children under the age of 5. By 2020, nearly half a million boys and girls will die from the disease in Africa alone, a rate one death every minute.

‘Giant Step’

Etleva Kadilli, Director of UNICEFSupply Department of, speak The rollout will send a clear message to malaria vaccine developers to continue their work.

We hope this is just the beginning. Continuous innovation is needed to develop new and next-generation vaccines to increase availability and facilitate a healthier vaccine market, she said.

“This is a huge step forward in our joint efforts to Save children’s lives and reduce the burden of malaria as part of broader malaria control and prevention programs”.

Disease is preventable

Malaria is caused by a parasite and is transmitted to humans by infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Although the disease is preventable and curable, it can be fatal if left untreated.

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), and vaccines can provide additional protection for more than 25 million children every year once the supply increases.

The malaria vaccine RTS, S – the result of 35 years of research and development – is the first vaccine against parasitic disease.

Pilot program

It was launched in a 2019 pilot program, coordinated by WHO, in three countries – Ghana, Kenya and Malawi – that reached more than 800,000 children.

Last October, the UN health agency encourage It is widely used in countries with moderate to high malaria transmission.

That December, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, decided to provide funding for malaria vaccine programs in eligible countries, thus opening the way for wider deployment of the vaccine. ask for.

Children in Kenya are the most susceptible to malaria infection.

GAVI

Children in Kenya are the most susceptible to malaria infection.

Sponsorship ‘window’ opened

CEO Seth Barkley reports that Gavi recently opened the “application window” for funding requests.

“Thanks to UNICEF procurement, we now have More sure about the supply and can go one step further to get this life-saving vaccine to those who need it most. As production increases over time, we expect that increased volume will also lead to lower and more sustainable prices,” he said.

Meanwhile, WHO has welcomed progress in ensuring timely supply and access to the vaccine so that more countries can introduce it as soon as possible.

“Life is at stake, every day,“Dr Kate O’Brien, Director of the WHO Division of Immunizations, Vaccines and Biologicals. “Given the initial limited supply, it is important that children who live in areas where the risk of disease and demand is highest comes first.”

Expected high demand

UNICEF expects that demand for malaria vaccines will be high in affected countries.

For any new vaccine, supply will be limited at first, but will increase as production capacity increases over time, which in turn will lead to lower cost per dose, the agency said. .

UNICEF added that plans are underway to boost production, including through technology transfer, “so that every child at risk has one day the opportunity to be immunized against the disease.” kill this man.”





Source link

news7h

News7h: Update the world's latest breaking news online of the day, breaking news, politics, society today, international mainstream news .Updated news 24/7: Entertainment, Sports...at the World everyday world. Hot news, images, video clips that are updated quickly and reliably

Related Articles

Back to top button