Malaria vaccine underway

2004/10/18 Rementeria Argote, Nagore - Elhuyar Zientziaren Komunikazioa

• Osasuna

This vaccine does not prevent infection, but can prevent the development of the disease. They have tested it with 2,022 boys and girls aged one to four, which means a 30% reduction in the risk of developing malaria. In addition, the vaccine is more effective in the more severe variants of the disease, which reduces the risk by 58%, and with children around a year of age, 71% less risk.

Vaccine developed in Belgium by GlaxoSmith Kline Biological. It is a combination of techniques that help the immune system fight the malaria parasite. Among other things, it contains a part of a superficial parasite protein, which binds to a part of the hepatitis B virus protein, which increases the immune system response.

Photo: WHO.