Abstract

Malaria still represents a primary cause of childhood illness and death in sub-Saharan Africa. Nowadays, more than 260000 children under the age of five die from malaria annually.

The development of vaccines against malaria parasites reaches far back into the past century. However, it is not so long ago when World Health Organization (WHO) recommended widespread use of the RTS,S/AS01E malaria vaccine among children in sub-Saharan Africa and regions with moderate to high P. falciparum malaria transmission. This recommendation was based on the results from an ongoing pilot programme in Ghana, Kenya and Malawim in which more than 800 000 children were vaccinated since 2019. It has been more than 2,3 milion vaccines given, which proves its safety. RTS,S/AS01E, the most effective malaria vaccine, showed 56 % efficacy over 12 months in African children. However, when combined with chemoprofylaxis and barrier personal safety equipment, it is possible to reach efficacy as high as 90 % (Ref. 11). Text in PDF www.lekarskyobzor.sk.

Key words: malaria, vaccine, RTS,S/AS01E.

Lek Obz 2022; 71 (4): 173 – 176

Nasir JALILI 1, Jakub GÉCZ 2

1 Mikrobiologický ústav, LF UK a UN Bratislava, prednostka doc. MUDr. A. Liptáková, PhD., MPH, mim. prof.
2 Oddelenie urgentného príjmu, NÚDCH Bratislava, primár MUDr. Mgr. M. Brenner, MPH

Cite
JALILI N., GÉCZ J.: Malaria – advances in the development of vaccines against Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Lek Obz 2022; 71 (4): 173 – 176