“World-leading British science” is set to end the global scourge of a disease that claims 600,000 lives each year. Two malaria vaccines developed in the UK that can slash infections by around 75% in areas with high seasonal transmission are now being rolled out.
Minister for Development Anneliese Dodds hailed their life-saving potential as she announced a UK contribution of £5million for a renewed push to end the epidemic by 2030.
The Labour minister told the Express: “The UK has pioneered efforts to end malaria. World-leading British science has helped develop two new malaria vaccines with the potential to save millions of lives.
“As I visit Malawi this week, I’m proud to know that I’m in one of three countries where a British-backed malaria vaccine has been shown to reduce child mortality by 13%.
“As a leading donor to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, we’re supporting the continued roll-out of malaria vaccines, including in Nigeria where children received their first doses just last week.”
The British jabs have this year breathed new life into the century-long battle to eliminate malaria, which remains endemic in 83 countries.
The RTS,S jab, made by GSK, was the first approved for widespread use by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in July 2022, followed by Oxford University’s R21 vaccine in December 2023. Both can prevent around 75% of malaria episodes.
Earlier this year, top vaccinologist and director of Oxford’s Jenner Institute Professor Adrian Hill said the power of vaccines alongside old tools such as mosquito nets and antimalarial drugs meant “eradication of malaria could be feasible in 10 years”.
The jabs have been added to routine childhood vaccination programmes in 17 countries, with more preparing to roll them out.
Funding from the UK will support the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, which is coordinating the global fight against the disease.
This includes tackling resistance to malaria treatments and supporting efforts to control malaria in Cameroon, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda.
A World Health Organisation report today reveals that an estimated 2.2 billion cases of malaria and 12.7 million deaths have been prevented since 2000. And the mortality rate across WHO Africa Region countries has dropped by 16% since 2015.
However, health chiefs warned that the disease remains a serious threat, with an estimated 236 million cases and 597,000 deaths worldwide in 2023.
Ms Dodds said progress against malaria had stalled in recent years as the impact of climate change, displacement and resistance to drugs and insecticides make the task even harder.
“With the right tools, treatments and leadership, we can get back on track to end malaria, save lives and unlock billions in economic growth.”
WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “No one should die of malaria; yet the disease continues to disproportionately harm people living in the African region, especially young children and pregnant women.
“An expanded package of lifesaving tools now offers better protection against the disease, but stepped-up investments and action in high-burden African countries are needed to curb the threat.”
