**:Xinhua.
GENEVA, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) said in a press release on Dec. 21 that the malaria vaccine R21 Matrix-M has been added to the WHO's list of prequalified vaccines. This is the world's second malaria vaccine, and in early October this year, WHO recommended the vaccine for children in areas with medium and high risk of malaria transmission.
Access to the pre-qualification list is a prerequisite for the procurement of vaccines by the United Nations Children** and financial support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. That's why WHO said in a statement that being on the prequalification list means more access to the vaccine as a key tool to prevent malaria in children.
Developed by the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom and produced by the Serum Institute of India, the R21 vaccine is the second malaria vaccine to be added to the WHO prequalification list. Previously, the first malaria vaccine, RTS, SAS01, was prequalified in July last year. Both vaccines have been shown to be safe and effective in clinical trials to prevent malaria in children. The vaccines are expected to have a significant impact on public health if they are rolled out alongside other recommended malaria control interventions, WHO said.
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by a parasite that is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. According to WHO, more than 30 countries around the world have areas of moderate to high malaria transmission, which could provide additional protection for more than 25 million children each year once the malaria vaccine** is increased.