UN: More studies needed before countries use new malaria vaccine that requires 4 shots

GENEVA – Vaccine experts advising the World Health Organization have recommended that further studies be done on a new malaria vaccine to figure out if officials can actually administer the four doses needed.

The new vaccine, Mosquirix, received an approval recommendation from the European regulator in July even though it only protects about 30 per cent of children. After a meeting in Geneva this week of WHO’s vaccine advisory group, chair Jon Abramson said if health workers can’t give children four shots of the vaccine within 18 months “we’re not going to be using it.”

The experts also made recommendations for a new Ebola vaccine, but those are contingent on regulatory approval. Abramson said they provisionally advise vaccinating health workers in an outbreak but noted any regulatory decision is probably several months away.