The World Health Organization announced the launch of practical tests of the world's first officially approved malaria vaccine. The pilot project will start in 2018 in three countries - Ghana, Kenya and Malawi.

The vaccine, known as RTS, S and Mosquirix, teaches the immune system to attack parasitic microorganisms transmitted to humans with mosquito bites and cause a deadly disease.

Vaccinations will be subjected to more than 750,000 children between the ages of five and 17 months. Clinical trials in this age group showed the worst results - in only four out of ten cases the vaccine really managed to prevent malaria.

Antimalarial vaccination should be done four times - the first three doses within three months, and the fourth - after six months. Without a fourth, decisive dose, the effectiveness of the vaccine is greatly reduced.

Such a regimen was supported in clinical trials, but it is difficult to say whether it is possible to strictly follow the vaccination program in the world's poorest countries, where access to health care is limited.

This is why WHO launches pilot projects in three African countries. Based on its results, conclusions will also be drawn about the safety and efficacy of the new vaccine.

Every year hundreds of thousands of people die of malaria in the world. WHO states that a vaccine developed by the British pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) can save tens of thousands of lives.

Recall, last year in Greece, stopped taking blood from donors because of malaria.

Author: 1.