Malaria Can Rebound as Vaccine Efficacy Wanes over Time

Protection from malaria vaccine declined over time in a phase III extension study; overall efficacy was estimated at 4.4% over 7 years.

Three doses of RTS,S/AS01, a candidate malaria vaccine, previously showed 28% efficacy against clinical malaria during 48 months of follow-up (NEJM JW Infect Dis Jun 2015 and Lancet 2015; 386:31). Investigators, with partial industry support, now report 7-year follow-up of 447 children randomly assigned at age 5 to 17 months to receive three doses of RTS,S/AS01 or rabies vaccine (control). The endpoint was clinical infection with Plasmodium falciparum.

In the intention-to-treat cohort, during the 7 years, overall vaccine efficacy was estimated to be 4.4%. Efficacy was 16.6% in the low-exposure group but was negative (−2.4%) in the high-exposure group. Vaccine efficacy waned over time and varied by level of malaria exposure. In the low-exposu…

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

Malaria Can Rebound as Vaccine Efficacy Wanes over Time

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Reviewing Author