'Dream Come True': Malaria Vaccine Approved After 30 Years Of Trials
Natasha Hinde— The Huffington Post UK
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A vaccine which could help protect against malaria, has been given the green light after 30 years of trials.
The Mosquirix (RTS,S) vaccination, which has been developed especially for children by GlaxoSmithKline, has cleared its final major hurdle after being approved by the European Medicines Agency.
However it could be another year before it is made available in Africa.
"This is a hugely significant moment. I've been working on this vaccine for 30 years and this is a dream come true," said Dr Ripley Ballou, head of research at GlaxoSmithKline vaccines.
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According to the World Health Organisation, roughly 3.2 billion people – which is almost half of the world's population – are at risk of malaria.
In 2013, there were approximately 198 million malaria cases and an estimated 584,000 deaths from the tropical disease, which is spread by mosquitoes.
It works by prompting the immune system to defend against the first stages of infection by the Plasmodium falciparum parasite, after it first enters the bloodstream following a mosquito bite.
Trials of Mosquirix showed that the vaccine prevented around half of malaria cases in children aged five to 17 months, who were given their first shot.
For babies aged between six and 12 weeks old, the vaccine worked for just a quarter of cases.
Additionally, the vaccine loses its effectiveness over time. In toddlers, the level of protection decreases to 36% after four years.
The vaccine is also not strong enough to protect against severe malaria, which can result in death.
The WHO will decide in October whether the vaccine should be deployed to children in Africa.
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Moncef Slaoui, GlaxoSmithKline’s chairman of global vaccines, revealed that the vaccine could be more effective in real-world conditions.
In the trial sites, treated mosquito nets were also used to help prevent spread of the disease. And these were frequently checked for damage.
Slaoui added: "The reality is that the bed net is only effective if you have used it.
"With vaccines, once immunised, your protection is with you day and night. My expectation is the effectiveness of this vaccine in real life conditions is going to be substantially higher."
The pharmaceutical company has spent more than $356 million (£230 million) on finding a vaccine.
It plans to use profits from Mosquirix to fund further research into vaccines for malaria and other tropical diseases.
Easy Ways To Prevent And Treat Those Pesky Mosquito Bites
Prevention: Stay inside(01 of11)
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Not for the WHOLE summer but at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. They also tend to prefer wooded areas and standing water so will be most present near lakes and ponds (so really, all the fun things we love about summer). (credit:Getty Creative)
Prevention: Wear light-coloured clothing(02 of11)
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Mosquitoes are attracted to heat and carbon dioxide, and you'll get hotter faster in dark clothing so anything of the pastel variety will keep you cooler, and less appealing to them -- a win, win. Keep the pants and shirts long-sleeved for added coverage. (credit:Getty Creative)
Prevention: Shower regularly(03 of11)
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Mosquitoes are attracted to sweat, so showering regularly will keep you clean and fresh and less appealing to bite. (Sad news for kids everywhere.) (credit:Getty Creative)
Prevention: Use insect repellent(04 of11)
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If you want to bring out the big guns, use insect repellent on exposed skin and loose clothing. But be aware of the ingredients -- like the level of DEET-- especially on children.
Experts recommend using spray with no more than 10 per cent DEET on kids ages two to 12. And be sure not to spray it on kids' hands if they will put them in their mouth or rub their eyes.
(credit:Getty Creative)
Prevention: Toss standing water(05 of11)
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Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water so anything that could be hospitable to this should be removed when not in use -- kiddie pools, birdbaths and even toys left on the lawn. (credit:Getty Creative)
Treatment(06 of11)
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If you follow all these tips and still get bitten (because those suckers are nothing if not relentless), there are plenty of ways to minimize the discomfort of the bites (rather than carving an X in your skin like you did at camp). (credit:Flickr)
Treatment: Don't scratch!(07 of11)
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The mosquito's saliva causes an allergic reaction and itching can make the bite worse, and take longer to heal. So your first line of defense is to clean the bite with soap and water and avoid itching it at all. (credit:Getty Creative)
Treatment: Baking soda(08 of11)
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That $3 orange box is really a miracle cure-all. A paste of baking soda and water will relieve itching and even minimize swelling. (credit:AL)
Treatment: Coconut oil(09 of11)
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Coconut oil is another essential, all-natural product to keep on hand for many reasons. Just dab a little coconut oil on your bite for a quick hit of relief. (credit:Shutterstock)
Treatment: Itch sticks(10 of11)
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Specially formulated creams that can be bought at most major drug stores contain several active ingredients to help the itching. The best part of these is they often contain a mild antibiotic to help avoid any possible infection. (credit:Getty Creative)
Treatment: Aspirin(11 of11)
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The good news is you don't have to look too far for some sweet, sweet relief. Crush up an Aspirin, mix with water and dab it directly on the bite for a few minutes then rinse with warm water. (credit:Shutterstock)