‘Safe and effective’: First malaria vaccine to be rolled out in 12 African countries
The Guardian (7/6)
Gavi, the World Health Organization (WHO), and UNICEF have announced that an initial 18 million doses of the world’s first malaria vaccine, RTS,S/AS01, will be rolled out in 12 African countries, where the risk of child illness and deaths from malaria is highest. The vaccine, which will be produced by GlaxoSmithKline and Bharat Biotech, is expected to arrive in the initial countries in late 2023. A further 16 countries have also asked for access and are expected to receive it once production has scaled up. Another malaria vaccine, R21, developed by Oxford University is currently awaiting WHO prequalification. In the coming years, both vaccines are expected to play a key role in the fight against malaria alongside other tools.
First pediatric study to test neutralizing antibodies against HIV shows promise
STAT (7/5)
A study published last week found that injections of broadly neutralizing antibodies in children living with HIV can improve the protective effects of antiretroviral drugs, marking the first time broadly neutralizing antibodies have been tested in combination with antiretroviral drugs in a pediatric population. The treatment suppressed cells that contained the virus and were capable of reactivating, paving the path to further research that could confirm the use of this method as a supplemental or alternative treatment for HIV in children. The publication of these findings follows recent research, which has focused on testing broadly neutralizing antibodies as a treatment for adults with HIV. Worldwide, about 1.7 million infants and children are living with HIV.
Marburg, Ebola Sudan vaccines might get share of COVAX surplus
Health Policy Watch (7/4), features the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)
Last week, Gavi confirmed that some of the $2.6 billion remaining in COVAX, the COVID-19 vaccine delivery initiative, could be redirected towards furthering investigational vaccine candidates for Marburg and Ebola Sudan, as well as a hexavalent vaccine that would offer protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and the inactivated polio vaccine. The investments for Marburg and Ebola Sudan will hopefully contribute to ensuring clinical trials in future outbreaks, especially after the scrapped trials during the recent Marburg and Ebola Sudan outbreaks.
