Mosquirix : first malaria vaccine that has completed the clinical development

INTER-NATIONAL: Mosquirix, a term that had surfaced over the Internet for a long time, now has been a matter of talk among the masses, It has been claimed that it is the first malaria vaccine that has completed the clinical development process, and received a positive scientific opinion from the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Why in the News?

The world has been suffering from the disease of Malaria for ages, many countries struggled to have cured of malaria, Moreover, it is the health sector that was engulfed with deep challenges on whether or not the Vaccination for Malaria should be carried forward. 

However, after WHO (world health organization) gave a green signal over "Mosquirix" to be used as a vaccination for Malaria, the world now has a sigh of relief.

According to the World Health Organization, it is a  step forward in the fight against one of humanity’s deadliest remaining infectious disease enemies. It will likely lead to countries adding the vaccine to their childhood immunization programs starting immediately. And it’s only the first step of many to come. Researchers are already working to improve on Mosquirix, and with a combination of different approaches, it might be possible for the world to significantly cut down on malaria’s staggering human toll for good.

This is the first malaria vaccine that has completed the clinical development process and received a positive scientific opinion from the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

According to the Indian Express it is also the first malaria vaccine to be introduced by three national ministries of health through their childhood immunization programmes — more than 800,000 children in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi have been vaccinated, and are benefiting from the added protection provided by the vaccine as part of a pilot programme.

The Europian Medicinse Agency believed it has been approved because Mosquirix provides short-term protection that could potentially save lives in the age group most at risk from malaria. The main study of Mosquirix showed that the vaccine can prevent malaria in children aged 6 weeks to 17 months at the time of the first dose. The protection afforded by the vaccine reduced over time after three doses and, for this reason, a fourth injection is recommended 18 months after the first three injections

With regard to its risk, the safety of Mosquirix is similar to that of other vaccines. A small number of children may have seizures caused by high fever and can be managed with fever medication in accordance to local guidelines.

The Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) therefore concluded that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh its risks and issued a positive scientific opinion.