Jenner Institute’s Post

PATH has been highlighted in Stephanie Nolen's article for The New York Times, which outlines the challenging development process of the world’s first malaria vaccine, RTS,S. This groundbreaking vaccine is the culmination of over two decades of dedicated research, rigorous testing, and partnership with organizations like GSK, the World Health Organization, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. We remain unwavering in our commitment to saving lives through the RTS,S malaria vaccine. In pilot implementations across Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi, we've documented a 13% reduction in all-cause mortality among vaccinated children, alongside a significant decrease in severe malaria hospitalizations. As of last November, Cameroon has taken a pivotal step as the first non-pilot country to receive the vaccine, marking a significant advancement towards broader accessibility. https://lnkd.in/dZQ2tcNB #EndMalaria #ImmunizationEquity #HealthForAll

This paper gives a useful (and short) recap' of the story of the first malaria vaccine registered in the world, and the hurdles to overcome - may we all learn from this to avoid these delays to repeat in the development of other critically needed vaccines.

I wrote a Lancet editorial on where we are with malaria vaccines. It is a critical time for malaria control where, with the right strategic mix of preventive, diagnostic and curative measures, we have the chance to make major further gains in reducing malaria mortality. Additive financing for vaccines in addition to sustained financing for non-vaccine malaria control measures is central. Over 1,000 children die every day from malaria; this is intolerable and avoidable.

𝐒𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚 𝐋𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐕𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐞 On World Malaria Day, Sierra Leone officially launches the introduction and rollout of 550 000 RTS’S World Health Organization (WHO)-approved vaccine procured by UNICEF with funding from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, becoming the third country in 2024 to introduce this campaign after #Cameroon and #BurkinaFaso. Read More: https://lnkd.in/gAA2cP4N Sierra Leone is among the countries with the highest malaria burden globally, with over two million hospital visits annually attributed to the disease, half of these are children under the age of five. Malaria also accounts for 25% of all child deaths in the country. “With the new, safe, and efficacious malaria vaccine, we now have an additional tool to fight this disease. In combination with insecticide-treated nets, effective diagnosis and treatment, and indoor spraying, no child should die from malaria infection,” said Dr Austin Demby, Minister of Health. “The launch of the malaria vaccine into the routine immunization service marks a laudable venture, ensuring that every child between the ages of 6 to 23 months has access to this life-saving intervention. This initiative not only underscores our commitment to achieving universal health coverage but also reflects our resolve to leave no child behind,” said Liv Elin Indreiten – UNICEF Representative. #mededgemea #MalariaVaccine #SierraLeone #publichealth #globalhealth #healthcare #vaccines #malariaprevention #infectiousdiseases #medicalbreakthrough #healthequity #EndMalaria #vaccinationprogram #malariacontrol

Despite the uptick in cases of malaria over the last few years, I am really encouraged by the success of the malaria vaccine, which started to be introduced in the last year. Not only did it decrease cases of malaria, but it reduced overall deaths among children by 13%. There continue to be stumbling blocks to getting the 4-part vaccine integrated with standard childhood immunizations, but we seem to be on our way. The addition of a second vaccine, which is under 25% of the cost of the first and only requires 3 doses will continue build on this strong start. https://lnkd.in/gij2NK75

Great News! Nigeria has taken a huge step in the fight against malaria with the launch of its long-awaited malaria vaccine rollout! This is a game-changer, especially for young children who have been most affected by this disease. But here's the thing: having the vaccine is just the first chapter. The real success will come down to how it's delivered. This reminds me of something I've been learning in my Implementation Science course. You can have the most innovative or effective product in the world, but if you don't know how to get it into the hands of the people who need it—and ensure they actually use it—it won't make much of an impact. And that's where frameworks like the RE-AIM Model come into play. Let me paint you a picture of how it can help in the malaria vaccine rollout: Reach: Picture this: the vaccine needs to reach every child under 5, especially in Nigeria's most remote areas. You can't just hope it will magically appear in villages without electricity or bad roads. It has to reach them. Effectiveness: The vaccine must work, but it also needs to feel safe to the people who need it. Skepticism about new vaccines is high, so addressing efficacy and safety concerns and building trust is necessary. Adoption: Health centers and local communities need to support this. If local healthcare workers don't believe in it or aren't equipped to deliver it, it won't go far. Getting everyone on board is key. Implementation: This is where the action happens. It's not just about making sure the vaccine is available—it's about ensuring the systems are in place to deliver it effectively. Think about things like reliable cold chain storage and keeping the vaccines at the right temperature every step of the way. Maintenance: How will this vaccine program continue a year from now, five years from now? We need to ensure long-term funding and a strategy to keep the vaccine flowing even after the donor money runs out. As Olanrewaju Egunlae said, collaboration is key. The Nigerian government, international donors, and the private sector must work together to fill these gaps in infrastructure and funding. I'm hopeful that the Nigerian government will tap into the expertise of professionals specializing in implementation science because ensuring a successful outcome of the vaccine rollout goes far beyond just logistics. #MalariaVaccine #ImplementationScience #HealthSystems #VaccineRollout #GlobalHealth #PublicHealth #Nigeria #MakingItHappen

Inspiring news about vaccines this week on two fronts! First, children in Cameroon, Africa will start to receive a new, highly effective malaria vaccine as part of a vaccination campaign. This is a historic first launch of a malaria vaccine outside of clinical trials or pilot programs. More than 20 African countries will be rolling out malaria vaccine programs this year to help protect people from this deadly infection.   Rollout of a new malaria vaccine kicks off in Africa  https://lnkd.in/gmbWExki #vaccines #malaria #healthcare And second, in a study of over 450,000 women in Scotland, researchers found zero cases of cervical cancer among the 40,000 women who had been vaccinated against HPV infection between the ages of 12 and 13. Even the authors of the study were happily surprised, as they were expecting ~15-17 cases.  HPV vaccine study finds zero cases of cervical cancer among women vaccinated before age 14  https://lnkd.in/giRu8K6H #cervicalcancer #hpvvaccine

Pleased to share our new paper in Lancet Microbe on mechanisms of immunity with the RTS,S malaria vaccine in young children in Mozambique Intriguingly, higher IgA responses and specific IgG functions (complement fixation, Fc-receptor interactions) among vaccinated children were associated with better vaccine efficacy. We found that IgA could promote phagocytosis by neutrophils, helping to understand how IgA responses could contribute to protection. We also found potential sex-based differences in mechanisms of protective immunity, which might be important to understand in order to develop vaccines with the highest level of protective immunity. A big thanks to all our colleagues, and those who participated in the original vaccine trial. https://lnkd.in/g_hvTQg5 Freya Fowkes Alessia Hysa Liriye Kurtovic Mark Hogarth Professor Heidi Drummer Gaoqian Feng #malaria #Mozambique #vaccine #globalhealth

Nigeria Launches Long-awaited Malaria Vaccination Campaign! by VOA News https://lnkd.in/e42uCqAS This is fantastic news in the fight against malaria! Last year, I shared my insights in The Guardian newspaper on the challenges and opportunities surrounding the introduction of the malaria vaccine in Nigeria. In the article, I discussed key issues like supply chain logistics, public perception, and long-term sustainability—all of which will be critical for the successful rollout. Want to dive deeper into these topics? Check out the full article for a closer look at how Nigeria can overcome these challenges and progress in the battle against malaria. https://lnkd.in/eTUuyBzY #MalariaVaccine #SupplyChain #PublicHealth #Nigeria #GlobalHealth #VaccineRollout #Sustainability

𝐍𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝟏𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐕𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 Nearly 10,000 children in #BurkinaFaso and #Cameroon have now received the RTS,S #Malaria vaccine since being introduced this year. A wider malaria #vaccine rollout is underway this year in several African countries, with Cameroon being the first outside the malaria vaccine pilot program to do so. Read More: https://lnkd.in/dFkGCtbg “Malaria is one of the major health challenges our region faces. The wider rollout of the malaria vaccine marks a significant milestone in advancing the fight against this deadly disease,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (#WHO) Regional Director for Africa. “We’re committed to supporting countries to ensure that all eligible children are protected from the devastating impacts of this preventable illness.” The vaccine rollout in the two countries marks the start of a major initiative by the WHO Regional Office for Africa’s Accelerated Malaria Vaccines Introduction and Rollout in Africa (#amvira). #mededgemea #who #MalariaPrevention #malariafree #MalariaAwareness #african