The prequalification means increased access to the vaccines as a key tool to prevent malaria in children, as it is a prerequisite for procurement by the United Nations Children’s Fund and financial support for its implementation by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

According to experts, both injections proved to be safe and effective in clinical trials to prevent malaria in children.

Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease that places a particularly high burden on children in Africa, where nearly half a million minors die from malaria every year.

Globally, there were an estimated 249 million malaria cases and 608,000 deaths in 85 countries in 2022.

The prequalification of the world’s second malaria vaccine, developed by Oxford University and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, is poised to expand access to malaria prevention through vaccination. ef/omr/npg/lpn .