Côte d’Ivoire, the first country to roll-out the R21/Matrix-M vaccine, began vaccinations in July 2024 with the first child vaccinated in Abidjan. Malaria kills around 600,000 people a year in Africa and is the “leading cause of medical consultations” in Côte d’Ivoire. The vaccine was co-developed by the University of Oxford and Serum Institute of India with Novavax’s Matrix-M technology and received WHO prequalification in 2023.
Serum Institute of India (SII) has manufactured 25 million doses of the vaccine and has committed to scaling up to 100 million doses. The vaccine is offered at less than $4 per dose. SII’s production capability will enable fast and productive manufacturing, which will be “critical to stemming the spread of disease” and protecting the vaccinated. 656,600 doses have been received to vaccinate 250,000 children up to 23 months old across 16 regions. The vaccine has also been authorised by Ghana, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and the Central African Republic.
This is the second malaria vaccine available in sub-Saharan Africa after RTS,S; both vaccines are “expected to have a high public health impact”. SII CEO, Adar Poonawalla, suggests that “reducing the malaria burden is finally within sight” after “years of incredible work” with partners at Oxford and Novavax.
“At Serum, we believe that it is every person’s right to have access to affordable and essential disease prevention. That’s why we have committed to producing 100 million doses of R21, which will protect millions of lives and alleviate the burden of this deadly disease for future generations.”
Serum is “thrilled” and “excited” by the continued collaboration and the opportunity to play a “leading role in eliminating a disease that has been so challenging to beat”.
A new era
Professor Adrian Hill, Director of the Jenner Institute at Oxford, describes the roll-out as “the start of a new era in malaria control interventions”. The “high efficacy” vaccine is now accessible at a “modest” price and “very large scale”.
“We hope that very soon this vaccine can be provided to all countries in Africa who wish to use it.”
Efforts from Gavi, WHO, UNICEF, the Global Fund, and partners are underway to prepare other countries for the deployment of this vaccine within wider malaria prevention and control strategies. Gavi’s support is expected to facilitate the introduction of the vaccine to 15 African countries in 2024, but more than 30 African countries have expressed interest in introducing it.
Dr Sania Nishtar, Gavi’s Chief Executive Officer, recognised that “Africa has borne the brunt of malaria for far too long”.
“Côte d”Ivoire has suffered more than most. With two safe and effective vaccines now available alongside other interventions, we have an opportunity to finally turn the tide against this killer disease.”
Novavax President and Chief Executive Officer John Jacobs agrees that this introduction is a “breakthrough in the fight to protect vulnerable children” from a “leading cause of death in the region”. It also “reinforc[es] our mission to create innovative vaccines that improve public health”.
“Novavax is proud of the contribution of our Matrix-M adjuvant in this vaccine and in making this moment possible, and value our continued collaboration with University of Oxford and Serum Institute of India, as well as the lifesaving work of WHO, Gavi, and UNICEF.”
We look forward to welcoming malaria experts, including Professor Hill, to the Congress in Barcelona this October to explore strategies and opportunities against the disease. Get your tickets to join us here and don’t forget to subscribe for more vaccine updates.
