The impact of a combination of the RTS,S/AS01E malaria vaccine and perennial chemoprevention of malaria in Ghanaian children

ntermittent preventive treatment of malaria with sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (SP) in infants (IPTi) was recommended for deployment in countries with a high burden of malaria in infants, and a low prevalence of SP resistance by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2010. Recently the IPTi regimen was renamed perennial malaria chemoprevention (PMC) and now focuses on flexible dosing regimens and age groups extending beyond infancy. More than ten countries are implementing or planning to implement PMC-SP and there are multiple ongoing studies on its implementation. In October, 2021, the WHO made its first recommendation for deployment of a malaria vaccine, RTS,S/AS01E in areas with moderate to high P falciparum transmission. Ghana was one of three countries that implemented the first pilot of the RTS,S vaccine. Following on the WHO recommendation, the vaccine is being scaled up as standard of care in Ghana through the expanded program on immunization beginning in early 2023. Ghana does not currently implement a PMC program.  

Combining RTS,S with PMC, and extending the period of administration of the latter into the second year of life, could have a strong synergistic effect. Many countries may consider deploying RTS,S with PMC, however there is no empirical evidence to inform the co-deployment of these interventions. Evidence generation on the effectiveness of PMC-SP is ongoing in current pilot studies. PMC with SP and amodiaquine (PMC-SPAQ) is likely a more effective chemoprevention regimen, especially in countries where SP resistance is high.  

Vaccines (Immune Correlates)

Apr 2023 — Mar 2027

$2.15B