Malaria vaccine set to save millions of lives, but who will fund it?

As vaccine against malaria has shown their error, the next hurdle for the World Health Organization is the cost

Malaria is a mass murderer, with a little less than 800 000 lives per year. Most of them are babies and children under five years. A significant number of pregnant women. This is a totally preventable disease caused by a parasite transmitted by the bite of a mosquito, but the millions who live under the curse are too poor and have few options to avoid it.

vaccine against malaria

now seems within reach, after a successful large-scale trials in seven African countries, is a potential game changer for rural residents, whose children are the main victims of this ancient disease, which was named "mal'aria" for medieval Italian Air was a bad idea.

The first results of 6000 babies from 5-17 months showed that the risk of malaria was reduced by just over half (56%) and their potential for severe malaria - the kind that affects the brain, kidneys and blood, and often kills - just under half (47 aa %).

Malaria is so common in the subfamilies think the fever in a baby must be the deadly disease. Too often it is, and hospitals are full of apathetic children with runny eyes empty.

number of insecticide-treated nets were provided by donors and distributed in areas where malaria is endemic. All young children and pregnant women should sleep under a mosquito away the night. New drugs - artemisinin compounds of participation - have been developed and widely disseminated to replace older antimalarial drugs, which have been if the parasite develops resistance to them

malaria deaths fell

over a million to about 780,000 a year, according to the latest report of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership of the World Health Organization. Three countries have been certified free of malaria in the last four years and nine others are preparing to move toward the elimination -. But it is 108, where the disease is endemic

Since nets are not always effective, and not always used as it should - there have been reports of some employees, such as fishing nets - and the drugs may be ineffective, a vaccine could massively improve opportunities for children

Although researchers have begun work on a vaccine against AIDS with the extraordinary potential and, as it turned out, misplaced optimism, many in the scientific community believes that a vaccine against malaria has been a non-starter. No one had ever made a vaccine against a parasitic disease spread.

Twenty years later, a handful of scientists Indomitable - veterans like Joe Cohen, who has spent the last 23 years - proved them wrong. According to Andrew Witty, CEO GlaxoSmithKline, the British company has developed and tested the vaccine, there were tears among the team when the results of the test results came out on a large scale. "It was the thrill of what they had accomplished," said Witty. "The first vaccine against a parasitic infection transmitted. They were overwhelmed."

• The results suggest that it is possible to prevent many cases of malaria in infants 5-17 months. Most of these children still have malaria, but with less frequency and severity minor. There were 750 cases per 1000 children vaccinated more than a year, compared to 1500 cases of 1000 children among those who received placebo injections.
• This could make a big difference in sub-Saharan Africa. There are 200 cases of malaria each year. Many children are injured - some with brain damage - for her. Not even half of the decision of cases would save millions of lives in the long run. But there is a way forward, however, with more test results to come, and many uncertainties, including the amount of the vaccine will cost and they are convinced to pay.
The trial continues in seven countries: Burkina Faso, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. Is important: there are 15 460 infants and children involved. The data published to date in the New England Journal of Medicine concerns of 6000 babies over the age group 5-17 months. Next year's expected results for newborns, which are crucial because the vaccine in three doses, which needs cold storage must be incorporated into the routine immunization program for children. It seems, however, that the response of the newborn is similar.

A big question is the duration of protection, which seems to have declined from 47% to 35% of severe malaria after 22 months. Some babies will receive a booster dose to see if that helps. Although most side effects were similar in children who received the vaccine and slaps modeling are not significantly more than those who received meningococcal vaccine. "There seems to be a plausible explanation for this and it is very possible to become a casual, but can not be ignored," writes Professor malaria expert Nick White, commenting on the contrary a warm welcome to the vaccine armory of weapons against disease .

more involved in malaria, according to White when he continues: "All researchers who have worked long and hard on the development and evaluation of vaccine against malaria is to be commended and is a great success . breakthrough, but they know that the vaccine was partially protective is not the only solution to control and eliminate malaria. "

In three years, when the final results and the WHO has recommended its use, scientists can strike the greatest obstacle of all: money for the launch. In a press conference to discuss the results, Dr. Regina Rabinovich, director of infectious diseases in the global health program of the Bill and Melinda Gates asked if it would fund. They want to see data on the efficiency, stability and security in 2014, he said. "Would you rather see a vaccine to 100%? Of course, "he said.

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