QUESTION

Is there a vaccine for malaria?

ANSWER

No, as of yet there is not a vaccine available for malaria. The most promising vaccine candidate, RTS,S, which has been developed by GlaxoSmithKline, is currently undergoing Phase III trials in Africa. The trial is not due to finish until 2014, so we will have to wait until then to know how effective it is. Preliminary results, published last year, suggested that it may prevent up to 50% of malaria cases in young children, though the long term protection level is not known. Other age groups will also have to be analyzed, as well as the effect of the vaccine on malaria mortality levels.