Trial shows vaccine halves malaria episodes in children in Africa

An antimalaria vaccine halved the number of first clinical episodes of malaria and severe malaria in children in the 12 months after vaccination, according to results from a clinical trial.

The trial included 6000 children aged 5 to 17 months old when they were enrolled at 11 centres in seven African countries. They were randomised to three doses of the new vaccine at one month intervals or a non-malaria comparator vaccine.

Results in the 14 months after the initial dose of vaccine showed the incidence of clinical malaria was 0.32 episodes per person year in children receiving the antimalaria vaccine compared with 0.55 episodes in the control group. The vaccine’s protection was lower at the end of 12 months, suggesting that a booster may be needed. Adverse events …