Malaria vaccine

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Malaria vaccine

The Malaria vaccine (pronunciation: /məˈlɛəriə ˈvæksiːn/) refers to a vaccine that is used to prevent malaria. The development of malaria vaccines has been an ongoing process since the 1980s.

Etymology

The term "malaria" comes from the Italian mala aria, meaning "bad air". This term was used in the past to describe the cause of the disease, which was incorrectly believed to be bad air. The term "vaccine" comes from the Latin vaccinus, meaning "from cows", as the first vaccines were developed using cowpox to provide immunity to smallpox.

Types of Malaria Vaccines

There are several types of malaria vaccines under development, including:

  • Pre-erythrocytic vaccines: These vaccines target the parasite in the liver before it has a chance to infect red blood cells and cause symptoms.
  • Blood-stage vaccines: These vaccines target the parasite after it has infected red blood cells.
  • Transmission-blocking vaccines: These vaccines prevent the parasite from being able to infect mosquitoes, breaking the cycle of transmission.

The most advanced malaria vaccine as of now is the RTS,S/AS01 (trade name Mosquirix), which is a pre-erythrocytic vaccine.

Effectiveness

The effectiveness of malaria vaccines varies. The RTS,S/AS01 vaccine, for example, has been shown to provide about 39% protection against malaria in children aged 5-17 months.

Related Terms

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