Research confirms that it is safe and effective for use in children in malaria-endemic areas. One of the key advantages of R21/Matrix-M is its availability. It is cheaper and can be mass-produced, making it much more accessible to resource-poor countries.
The R21/Matrix-M vaccine targets Plasmodium falciparum, the most dangerous malaria pathogen. Clinical trials have shown that it can reduce malaria incidence by more than 50% in the first year after vaccination, and a fourth dose prolongs the protective effect. When administered seasonally in combination with chemoprophylaxis, the vaccine is 75% effective.
Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, is set to produce over 100 million doses of R21 annually, with plans to scale up to 200 million doses per year. This will help meet the high demand for the vaccine in African countries, where malaria kills around half a million children every year.
The introduction of R21/Matrix-M into national immunization programmes has already begun. This is a significant step forward in the fight against malaria, aimed at reducing child mortality and improving public health in endemic areas.
