New Malaria Vaccine for Babies Approved in Major Health Breakthrough

A new medicine has been approved for young kids and babies infected with malaria.

The creation of this vaccine marks the first time a malaria treatment created for infants has been approved. It is being deployed all over Africa in the hopes that it brings down the amount of malaria cases.

Another malaria treatment was recommended by the WHO (World Health Organization) in October of 2021, and it has already contributed to a great reduction in malaria-related deaths. Yet, while the treatment has been helpful, there has not been a drug specifically made for very young children and babies—until now.

Normally, malaria is life-threatening for children and babies because there has been no cure for it. However, the new vaccine can potentially eliminate malaria in many African countries, where malaria is most common.

From the latest data of the World Health Organization, over 90% of all malaria cases around the world are from Africa. This is because they have poorer living conditions than the rest of the world.

This new treatment was developed by the company Novartis, which plans to produce it without making a profit, making the medicine more accessible in low-resource settings.

Malaria is a disease spread from one specific type of mosquito, the female Anopheles mosquitoes. It can be deadly if not treated properly, or if you don’t treat it quickly.