Malaria Vaccine Has Modest Efficacy in Very Young African Infants

The RTS,S/AS01 vaccine's efficacy against any episode of malaria was 33% in African infants aged 6 to 12 weeks.

The RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine, which targets the preerythrocytic stage of Plasmodium falciparum, has about 50% efficacy against clinical and severe malaria in children aged 5 to 17 months (JW Infect Dis Oct 20 2011). Now, investigators have randomized 6537 children aged 6 to 12 weeks at 11 African sites with various intensities of malaria transmission to one of three vaccination protocols: three doses of the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine at monthly intervals, plus a booster at 18 months after dose three; three monthly doses of the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine with no booster; or a control nonmalaria comparator vaccine.

All groups received Expanded Program on Immunization vaccines and were followed for 1 year after dose three (not long enough to assess any poten…

Reviewing Author

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine