Kenya Medical Research Institute’s lead malaria researcher, Dr Bernhards Ogutu, says the country has played an instrumental role in the development of the malaria vaccine, which is set to be rolled out for trials in 2018. The pilot deployment is meant to first monitor the performance of the RTS,S vaccine in a few countries, and Kenya has applied for consideration. RTS,S is the first licensed human vaccine against malaria, and so far the most advanced, specifically targeting parasites. The announcement comes at a time when scientists have declared the RTS,S vaccine safe to be administered to children infected with HIV. The go-ahead to initiate trials comes after the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria approved distribution of Sh1.5 billion ($15 million) for the malaria vaccine pilots, assuring full funding for the first phase of the programme.

Source: Daily Nation December 05, 2016 19:52 UTC