Words by GOLD newsdesk
The World Health Organization (WHO) has granted the first prequalification for a malaria vaccine to GSK’s Mosquirix in an important step toward immunising children against the disease.
Mosquirix was developed in collaboration between GSK, PATH and other partners to protect children from P. falciparum malaria – the deadliest form of the disease. The WHO recommended broader use of Mosquirix to reduce childhood illness and deaths from malaria in children living in sub-Saharan Africa and other regions with moderate to high transmission of P. falciparum malaria in 2021.
“WHO prequalification of Mosquirix is a key step in reaching children with the first and only approved malaria vaccine. Malaria remains a significant cause of illness and death for children in many parts of the world, and it is a significant driver of inequality,” commented Thomas Breuer, Chief Global Health Officer, GSK. “So far, over one million children in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi have had at least one dose of Mosquirix, donated by GSK, through the Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme, and WHO’s prequalification paves the way for more children to benefit from the vaccine.”
A WHO prequalification decision is taken to ensure that a vaccine meets all standards of safety, quality and efficacy before its adoption. This is a mandatory prerequisite for United Nations agencies, such as UNICEF, to procure a vaccine in partnership with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and any eligible countries.
