A child dies every two minutes from malaria in the world according to the WHO and a first vaccine will be able to be deployed. Damien Mascret, journalist with France Télévisions, is on the set of the 20 Hours to broach the subject.
This is an important step for the malaria vaccine which is intended for children under 2 years old, in fact two thirds of malaria deaths in Africa occur before the age of 5 years. “Thanks to a pilot program, 800,000 children were vaccinated with mosquirix, that’s the name of the vaccine, in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi. Three countries in sub-Saharan Africa where malaria is rife. And the results are encouraging because they show a 30% reduction in severe and fatal cases in these vaccinated children. “, says Damien Mascret, journalist at France Télévisions.
But why would scientists be so satisfied with bringing this vaccine to market? “It is encouraging, because it is the first effective vaccine, even modestly, against a parasite, in other words a living being much more complex than a virus. The pilot program carried out in the three countries showed that the vaccine did not reduce the use by the populations of the other important weapons against infectious diseases such as insecticide-treated mosquito nets, other childhood vaccinations and the use of care in case of fever. It is therefore one more weapon, but not yet the ultimate weapon “, add Damien damien Mascret.
