In October 2021, the World Health Organization approved widespread use of the malaria vaccine RTS,S/AS01 for children. While India has reported large drops in malaria cases, the disease still plagues parts of the world. Infectious disease expert Dr Vikrant Shah explains the importance of the vaccine and why people need to take safety more seriously
_d_d.jpg "Explained: What the WHO-approved malaria vaccine for children means for disease eradication efforts")
The World Health Organization (WHO) last week gave approval for the widespread use of RTS,S/AS01. Image for representational purpose only. Photo: istock
The World Health Organization (WHO) last week gave approval for the widespread use of RTS,S/AS01, the first malaria vaccine, in children under the age of five. This green signal is said to be a game-changer in the fight against the disease that affects many regions around the world including India.
However, according to WHO’s World Malaria Report 2020, India reported the largest drop in cases—70 percent—from 20 million cases in 2000 to 6 million in 2019. In 2020, as many as 116 districts reported zero malaria cases in the country, former Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said earlier this year. India aims to reach the WHO's ‘Zero Malaria Target’ by 2030.
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