The World Health Organization , WHO, described the malaria vaccine as "safe and effective" having led to "a substantial reduction in severe malaria".
New malaria vaccine cuts mortality rate, according to WHO
A child receives a shot during the launch of the extension of the world’s first malaria vaccine in Kenya’s Kimogoi Dispensary in Gisambai on March 7, 2023
-
Copyright © africanews
YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP or licensors
Speaking in New York , Director-general, Tedros Ghebreyesus , added that the new vaccine also contributed to a fall in child deaths.
"As the first vaccine against malaria, the RTS,S vaccine has now been delivered to more than 1.6 million children in Ghana , Kenya and Malawi . It has been shown to be safe and effective, resulting in a substantial reduction in severe malaria and a fall in child deaths", announced Tedros Ghebreyesus , WHO Director-General.
The director for Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals also warned that despite this new "tool in the toolbox", "its important to remember that nearly every minute a child dies of malaria".
"I think it's really important to remember nearly every minute a child dies of malaria, and the introduction of malaria vaccine as another tool, an additional tool in the toolbox to fight against the severe disease, the deaths that occur, is a really essential step forward", added Katherine O'Brien , WHO Director of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals.
According to previous UN studies, climate change is allowing an increase in the number of mosquitoes carrying malaria-like diseases.