Rollout of malaria vaccine loses major funding

The World Health Organization recently announced the next steps of rolling out the world’s first malaria vaccine, despite losing a large chunk of its backing. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has refused to fund an extension of the vaccine’s supply. The foundation will continue to financially support the vaccine alliance, Gavi, which is investing nearly $156 million into making the shot initially available in three African countries: Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi. The foundation’s concern rests on the vaccine’s 30 percent effectiveness after four doses, as well as a limited supply of the doses. On the other hand, physicians like Alister Craig, dean of biological sciences at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, say that despite the vaccine’s low effectiveness, it still offers a chance to save thousands of lives.

What effect is the disease having now? Nolia Zidana, 32, of Malawi says her 4-year-old son has had malaria “countless times” and her 7-month-old has had it twice already. Physicians in developing countries in Africa can often see the same patients struggling with malaria four or five times a year. Malawi’s Ministry of Health has asked everyone in the country to do everything that they can to curb the spread of malaria—even if it’s just putting up a sleeping net.

Dig deeper: Read Emily Belz’s piece in WORLD Magazine about Christian doctors doing what they can to help people in Liberia.