The R21 malaria vaccine has been prequalified by the World Well being Organisation, providing a cheap resolution for combating malaria in Africa, based on a examine printed by 1Day Africa, a world non-profit.
The report highlighted that the vaccine’s cost-effectiveness rivals that of insecticide-treated mattress nets, lengthy thought-about a gold customary in malaria prevention.
“The R21 vaccine is priced at $39 per disability-adjusted life yr (DALY) averted, practically matching the $38 value of mattress nets,” the report obtained on Friday said.
By comparability, the RTS vaccine prices $129 per DALY, making R21 a extra viable choice for widespread deployment in low- and middle-income international locations.
Produced by the Serum Institute of India, the R21 vaccine advantages from streamlined manufacturing processes, leading to decrease prices.
Researchers argue that integrating the vaccine with different interventions, akin to seasonal chemoprevention and vector management measures, might dramatically scale back malaria incidence throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.
Malaria continues to be a serious public well being problem, with 95 per cent of worldwide instances reported in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2022.
“The introduction of R21 might considerably alter the trajectory of malaria management efforts, significantly in areas grappling with rising resistance to present instruments,” the examine emphasised.
The report additionally requires sustained funding in malaria analysis and innovation to make sure that new interventions like R21 are successfully built-in into broader public well being methods.
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