Implementation of malaria vaccines: Challenges and opportunities (Professor Sir Brian Greenwood)

The talk highlighted the long-awaited milestone of having two approved malaria vaccines (RTS,S and R21) and the challenges in their implementation. It discussed the history of malaria vaccine development, the complexities of targeting a multi-stage parasite, and the moderate efficacy of current vaccines. Prof. Greenwood emphasized prioritizing areas with the highest malaria burden, optimizing schedules for cost-effectiveness, and combining vaccines with other malaria interventions to maximize impact. Despite supply constraints, this advancement is seen as a crucial step in reducing malaria mortality, especially among children.