WHO recommends R21/Matrix-M vaccine for malaria prevention in updated advice on immunization
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the R21/Matrix-M vaccine developed by Oxford University. The recommendation follows from the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) and the Malaria Policy Advisory Group (MPAG) and was endorsed by the WHO Director-General following its regular biannual meeting held on 25–29 September.
Earlier in September 2022, in a paper titled “Efficacy and immunogenicity of R21/Matrix-M vaccine against clinical malaria after 2 years’ follow-up in children in Burkina Faso: a phase 1/2b randomised controlled trial”, a team of scientists reported efficacy of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine, which reached the WHO-specified goal of 75% or greater efficacy over 12 months in the target population of African children. The R21 vaccine is the second malaria vaccine recommended by WHO, following the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine, which received a WHO recommendation in 2021.
“As a malaria researcher, I used to dream of the day we would have a safe and effective vaccine against malaria. Now we have two,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Demand for the RTS,S vaccine far exceeds supply, so this second vaccine is a vital additional tool to protect more children faster, and to bring us closer to our vision of a malaria-free future.”
Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, emphasized the importance of this recommendation for the continent, saying: “This second vaccine holds real potential to close the huge demand-and-supply gap. Delivered to scale and rolled out widely, the two vaccines can help bolster malaria prevention and control efforts and save hundreds of thousands of young lives in Africa from this deadly disease.”
The R21 vaccine has proven to yield a high efficacy when administered before the transmission season. The WHO reports that mathematical modelling estimates indicate the public health impact of the R21 vaccine is expected to be high in a wide range of malaria transmission settings, including low transmission settings. Further, the R21 is more affordable, costing $2-$4 for each dose. Following WHO’s recommendation, at least 28 African countries intend on introducing R21 as a part of their immunization programmes. This is an important step towards a healthier future for the African subcontinent. It demonstrates the triumph of human innovation over disease and suffering.
Sources: WHO Media Team. WHO Media. “WHO recommends R21/Matrix-M vaccine for malaria prevention in updated advice on immunization”. https://www.who.int/news/item/02-10-2023-who-recommends-r21-matrix-m-vaccine-for-malaria-prevention-in-updated-advice-on-immunization. 2 October 2023. Accessed: 7 October 2023.
