PIXABAY, PHOTOLIZMThe first vaccine against malaria received a tepid review from global health officials last week (October 23). A World Health Organization (WHO) committee announced its support last week for a pilot roll-out, rather than mass immunization.
Of concern, said Jon Abramson, chair of the WHO advisory committee, is making sure children get all four shots. “What we are recommending is that before we have widespread use of this vaccine—and we wouldn’t necessarily use it in a very low incidence area, but in all medium and high areas—that we know that we can get that fourth dose in,” Abramson told reporters (via Reuters).
The vaccine is already considered a mediocre performer. Earlier this year, a study found it reduces malaria cases in children by up to 36 percent. “Still, this modest effect could save hundreds of lives each year because malaria kills nearly half a million people annually, most of whom are children in sub-Saharan Africa,” Nature News reported last week (October ...
