The new Oxford University malaria vaccine has been approved by Ghana, making it the first nation in the world to do so.
Contrary to earlier attempts in the same field, the vaccination known as R21 appears to be extremely effective.
According to trial results from early research in Burkina Faso, the R21 vaccine was up to 80% effective when administered as three initial doses and a booster one year later, according to the BBC.
The vaccination is intended for use in children under the age of three.
Ghana’s drug regulators have decided to use the vaccine after reviewing the final trial data on its safety and effectiveness, which is not yet public.
The vaccine is also being considered for approval by the World Health Organization. Malaria kills approximately 620,000 people each year, the majority of whom are children.
According to the BBC, developing a vaccine that protects the body from the malaria parasite has been a major, century-long scientific endeavor.
It was cautioned, however, that the vaccine’s widespread usage is contingent on the outcomes of a bigger experiment involving almost 5,000 youngsters.
These were supposed to take place at the end of last year, but they have yet to be properly announced. They have, however, been shared with several African governments and scientists.
