WHO Recommends RTS,S Malaria Vaccine for Children

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the widespread use of the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine for children in sub-Saharan Africa and regions with moderate to high Plasmodium falciparum malaria transmission. The recommendation follows results from an ongoing pilot program in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi, which has reached over 900,000 children since 2019.

Malaria remains a leading cause of childhood illness and death in sub-Saharan Africa, with more than 260,000 children under five dying annually. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the vaccine, alongside existing prevention tools, could save tens of thousands of young lives each year.

The pilot program found the vaccine feasible to deliver through routine immunization systems, improving health and saving lives. It has also increased access to malaria prevention and demonstrated a favorable safety profile across more than 2.3 million doses administered in three African countries.

Furthermore, the vaccine has not negatively impacted bed net usage, other childhood vaccinations, or health-seeking behavior for febrile illness. Studies showed a significant 30% reduction in severe, fatal malaria cases.

Next steps include funding decisions for broader rollout and country-level decisions on integrating the vaccine into national malaria control strategies. The pilot program received financial support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and Unitaid.