Cote d’Ivoire in West Africa became the first country to begin administering R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine.
About R21/Matrix-M vaccine:
- The R21/Matrix-M vaccine is the second malaria vaccine recommended by WHO in 2023, following the earlier RTS,S/AS01 vaccine.
- It was developed by the University of Oxford with the adjuvant technology, Matrix-M, provided by Novavax.
- It is a proprietary saponin-based adjuvant derived from the Quillaja saponaria tree bark in Chile, enhancing the immune response.
- This development was supported by multiple international partners including the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), the Wellcome Trust, and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
- The Serum Institute of India has been licensed to manufacture and scale the vaccine, making it available for use in endemic countries.
- The vaccination schedule consists of a three-dose regimen followed by a booster dose 12 months after the third injection.
- It is the first vaccine to meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) efficacy target of 75%.
- It has been approved for use in several African countries including Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Nigeria, with plans to begin rollout in early 2024 and expand availability to other countries by mid-2024.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the R21/Matrix-M vaccine?
The R21/Matrix-M is the second malaria vaccine recommended by the WHO in 2023, developed by the University of Oxford using the Matrix-M adjuvant from Novavax.
What is saponin?
Saponin is a natural compound used in vaccines as an adjuvant to enhance immune response. It is derived from plant sources such as the Quillaja saponaria tree bark.