Why is it in the news?

• Recently, the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine, developed by the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India, has been recommended for use by the World Health Organization (WHO).
• The recommendation comes after a detailed scientific review by the WHO’s independent advisory bodies, including the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) and the Malaria Policy Advisory Group (MPAG).

More about the news

• The Matrix-M component, a proprietary saponin-based adjuvant from Novavax, is used in the vaccine.
• Novavax retains commercial rights in non-endemic countries, while the Serum Institute has rights for use in endemic countries.
• The R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine has already been licensed for use in Ghana, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso.
• The vaccine demonstrated efficacy of 75% at sites with high seasonal malaria transmission and 68% at sites with more perennial transmission using standard age-based administration.
• Booster doses restored efficacy, with a vaccine efficacy over 18 months of 74% at seasonal sites.
• The Serum Institute of India aims to scale up vaccine production to ensure accessibility for those in need.
• The vaccine is expected to accelerate and expand access to a safe and potentially life-saving vaccine for controlling malaria, especially among children, who are disproportionately affected by the disease.

 About Malaria

• Malaria is a mosquito-borne blood disease caused by Plasmodium protozoa.
• The disease is transmitted through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
• It is caused by Plasmodium parasites and can be life-threatening.
• The parasites multiply in liver cells and then attack Red Blood Cells (RBCs) in the human body.
• There are five parasite species that cause malaria in humans, with Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax posing the greatest threat.
• Malaria is predominantly found in tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, South America, and Asia.
• Common symptoms include fever, flu-like illness, chills, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue.

 Disease Burden

• According to the latest World Malaria Report, there were 247 million cases of malaria in 2021, compared to 245 million cases in 2020.
• In 2022, India reported over 45,000 cases of malaria.
• Children under five years of age accounted for about 80% of all malaria deaths in the WHO African Region.

Initiatives to Curb Malaria:

 Global Initiatives

• WHO’s ‘E-2025 Initiative’ identifies 25 countries with the potential to eradicate malaria by 2025.
• The WHO’s Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016–2030 aims to reduce malaria case incidence and mortality rates by at least 40% by 2020, at least 75% by 2025, and at least 90% by 2030 against a 2015 baseline.
• The High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) initiative targets 11 high malaria burden countries, including India.

Indian Initiatives

• The Government of India set a target to eliminate malaria in India by 2027.
• A National Framework for Malaria Elimination (2016-2030) was developed, focusing on shifting from malaria control to elimination.
• A National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination for 5 years was launched in 2017. The plan aimed to end malaria in 571 districts out of India’s 678 districts by 2022.
• The Malaria Elimination Research Alliance-India (MERA-India) was established by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to collaborate on malaria control efforts.