Scientists found that vaccinating African women against malaria before pregnancy could prevent infection for nearly two years without the need for a booster shot. According to researchers, the results represent a "tremendous advance" in preventing the potentially fatal illness in women.
According to their estimates, 200,000 stillbirths and 50,000 fatalities are caused by severe malaria infection, or Plasmodium falciparum, during pregnancy in Africa each year. 300 Mali women who intended to become pregnant in the upcoming year were enlisted by the researchers for the study.
One hundred members of the group received a modest dose of the vaccine, one hundred received a high dose, and one hundred received a placebo.
Following the vaccination, the women stopped taking birth control and were monitored for nearly two years, during two malaria seasons.
The babies of the expectant women were also monitored until their first birthday. The vaccine's effectiveness against malaria infection in the first year for women who became pregnant was 86% in the high dose group. During the two seasons, the jab's effectiveness in the low dose group during pregnancy was 57%. Additionally, researchers discovered that the low dose group's efficiency, at 61% without boosting, was on par with or even higher in the second year than in the first.
In terms of preventing malaria in pregnant women, this is a huge advancement. Researchers also discovered that vaccinated patients became pregnant earlier. Mr. Dicko went on to say: "When given before to conception, we were thrilled to observe notable vaccination efficacy against Pf infection not just in the first year but also through a second intense malaria transmission.
Another encouraging finding that caught us off guard was that vaccinated individuals became pregnant earlier. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that in 2022, there were 580,000 malaria fatalities and 233 million cases in the African region.This corresponds to 95% of deaths and 94% of cases worldwide.
A serious infection is more likely to occur in pregnant women, children under five, babies, and those living with HIV or AIDS. In October 2021, the World Health Organization recommended RTS,S, the first malaria vaccine, to prevent malaria in children. Nearly two million children in Kenya, Ghana, and Malawi have received it according to WHO's Malaria Vaccine Implementation Program. The RTS, S/AS01, and R21/Matrix-M vaccines are among the malaria vaccinations that the World Health Organization recommended be administered systematically to children residing in endemic areas in October of last year.
"The results of this study in women of child-bearing potential clearly demonstrate its potential to save the lives of women and their unborn babies in Africa," continued Stephen L. Hoffman, founder and CEO of Sanaria.
Professor Rose Leke, of the University of Cameroon, added: “While pregnant women are typically excluded from many clinical studies, given the scale of the problem and the profound effects of malaria on women of child-bearing potential, there is an ethical imperative to design and test interventions for this vulnerable group.
“I applaud this research team for successfully pioneering the safe testing of PfSPZ Vaccine in young women and achieving such promising results on preventing malaria in pregnancy.”
