Washington, D.C., October 2, 2023 – Malaria No More CEO Martin Edlund issued the following statement upon the World Health Organization’s (WHO) endorsement of the R21 malaria vaccine, developed by the Jenner Institute at Oxford University:
Today, the malaria fight got a proverbial shot in the arm with the announcement that the World Health Organization has endorsed R21, the world’s second malaria vaccine. At Malaria No More, we are encouraged that R21 not only builds upon the breakthrough progress of the RTS,S vaccine, which was endorsed by WHO in 2021 - but shows promise for mass distribution at a more affordable price.
With the availability of two vaccines, these life-saving preventative tools will now be able to reach millions more children across the African continent and save countless additional lives.
New vaccines and therapies are needed for malaria now more than ever, as communities work to get back on track after setbacks caused by climate change, conflict, and Covid-19 disruptions. Continued research and innovation are critical to getting ahead of malaria and climate-proofing malaria elimination plans.
We urge Congress and the Administration to maintain their decades-long commitment to the malaria fight and global vaccination efforts through Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI).
With the right tools and resources, we can end malaria in our lifetime.
###
For more information or interview requests, please contact Mindy Mizell at mindy.mizell@malarianomore.org.
About Malaria No More
Malaria No More envisions a world where no one dies from a mosquito bite. Fifteen years into our mission, our work has contributed to historic progress toward this goal. Now, we’re mobilizing the political commitment, funding, and innovation required to achieve what would be one of the greatest humanitarian accomplishments – ending malaria within our generation. For more information, visit www.malarianomore.org.
