Rapid Fire
R21/Matrix-M Malaria Vaccine
- 23 May 2024
- 1 min read
Serum Institute of India (SII), the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer (by number of doses produced and sold globally), has shipped the first set of R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccines to countries in Africa.
- This vaccine has been developed by the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India.
- It has been recommended for use by the World Health Organization (WHO) after meeting required safety, quality and effectiveness standards.
- The first malaria vaccine, RTS,S/AS01 was recommended by WHO to prevent malaria in children in October 2021.
- Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by the plasmodium parasite, which is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
- As per World Malaria report 2023, there were 249 million cases of malaria in 2022 compared to 247 million cases in 2021.
- In 2022, the African Region bore the heaviest malaria burden, with 94% of cases and 95% of deaths globally.
- India accounted for 1.4% of total malaria cases in the world and saw a 30% decline in malaria cases and 34% decline in deaths in 2022 as compared to the 2021.
Read more: R21/Matrix-M Malaria Vaccine
