Malaria Vaccines and Global Equity: A Scoping Review of Current Progress and Future Directions
The journey toward a viable malaria vaccine, initiated in 1965, reached a major milestone in 2021 with the WHO’s endorsement of RTS,S/AS01, a recombinant protein-based malaria vaccine. This progress continued with the 2023 approval of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine, which is more cost-effective, more pote...
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2025-05-01
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| author | Rajesh Perumbilavil Kaithamanakallam Tirath Patel Bharati Balachandran Neville Fernandez Joseph Jillwin Dharambir Kashyap Aparna Shivaprasad Uttam Udayan Pragnesh Kalyandrug Aakanksha Aakanksha Prasanna Honnavar |
| author_facet | Rajesh Perumbilavil Kaithamanakallam Tirath Patel Bharati Balachandran Neville Fernandez Joseph Jillwin Dharambir Kashyap Aparna Shivaprasad Uttam Udayan Pragnesh Kalyandrug Aakanksha Aakanksha Prasanna Honnavar |
| author_sort | Rajesh Perumbilavil Kaithamanakallam |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The journey toward a viable malaria vaccine, initiated in 1965, reached a major milestone in 2021 with the WHO’s endorsement of RTS,S/AS01, a recombinant protein-based malaria vaccine. This progress continued with the 2023 approval of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine, which is more cost-effective, more potent due it is higher protein content, and easier to manufacture. Though these achievements signal hope, malaria’s intricate life cycle and its prevalence in underprivileged regions make vaccine development and equitable distribution challenging. This review explains the lifecycle of malaria and explores the evolution of various treatment strategies aimed at reducing malaria-related mortality. This scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of malaria vaccines, examining their development, efficacy, safety, and implementation challenges. Using a structured literature search across PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, we identified key themes related to malaria vaccines trials, policy implications, and future research needs. Peer-reviewed publications on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science from 1970 to 2024 were searched without any limitations. Search and Boolean search terms were modified to include terms like “malaria vaccines”, “malaria vaccination”, “malaria immunisation”, “malaria immunisation AND malaria-endemic countries”, “malaria endemic low-income countries AND malaria control”, “malaria public health control”, “malaria chemoprophylaxis AND early diagnosis of malaria”, “screening for malaria”, and “laboratory diagnosis of malaria in endemic countries” in order to find pertinent studies. Preliminary insights suggest that although vaccines are crucial, comprehensive strategies involving health education, hygiene, and timely medical intervention remain essential to malaria control. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8bb60c830bf4493792aa043a468f8340 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2227-9059 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomedicines |
| spelling | doaj-art-8bb60c830bf4493792aa043a468f83402025-08-20T03:27:05ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592025-05-01136127010.3390/biomedicines13061270Malaria Vaccines and Global Equity: A Scoping Review of Current Progress and Future DirectionsRajesh Perumbilavil Kaithamanakallam0Tirath Patel1Bharati Balachandran2Neville Fernandez3Joseph Jillwin4Dharambir Kashyap5Aparna Shivaprasad6Uttam Udayan7Pragnesh Kalyandrug8Aakanksha Aakanksha9Prasanna Honnavar10Department of Microbiology and Immunology, American University of Antigua College of Medicine, St. Johns 1451, Antigua and BarbudaBasic Medical Science, American University of Antigua College of Medicine, St. Johns 1451, Antigua and BarbudaDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, American University of Antigua College of Medicine, St. Johns 1451, Antigua and BarbudaDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, American University of Antigua College of Medicine, St. Johns 1451, Antigua and BarbudaDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, American University of Antigua College of Medicine, St. Johns 1451, Antigua and BarbudaBrown Center for Immunotherapy, Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Division of Hematology and Oncology, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USADepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, American University of Antigua College of Medicine, St. Johns 1451, Antigua and BarbudaDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, American University of Antigua College of Medicine, St. Johns 1451, Antigua and BarbudaBasic Medical Science, American University of Antigua College of Medicine, St. Johns 1451, Antigua and BarbudaInternal Medicine, Tbilisi State Medical University, 33 Vazha Pshavela Avenue, Tbilisi 0159, GeorgiaDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, American University of Antigua College of Medicine, St. Johns 1451, Antigua and BarbudaThe journey toward a viable malaria vaccine, initiated in 1965, reached a major milestone in 2021 with the WHO’s endorsement of RTS,S/AS01, a recombinant protein-based malaria vaccine. This progress continued with the 2023 approval of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine, which is more cost-effective, more potent due it is higher protein content, and easier to manufacture. Though these achievements signal hope, malaria’s intricate life cycle and its prevalence in underprivileged regions make vaccine development and equitable distribution challenging. This review explains the lifecycle of malaria and explores the evolution of various treatment strategies aimed at reducing malaria-related mortality. This scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of malaria vaccines, examining their development, efficacy, safety, and implementation challenges. Using a structured literature search across PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, we identified key themes related to malaria vaccines trials, policy implications, and future research needs. Peer-reviewed publications on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science from 1970 to 2024 were searched without any limitations. Search and Boolean search terms were modified to include terms like “malaria vaccines”, “malaria vaccination”, “malaria immunisation”, “malaria immunisation AND malaria-endemic countries”, “malaria endemic low-income countries AND malaria control”, “malaria public health control”, “malaria chemoprophylaxis AND early diagnosis of malaria”, “screening for malaria”, and “laboratory diagnosis of malaria in endemic countries” in order to find pertinent studies. Preliminary insights suggest that although vaccines are crucial, comprehensive strategies involving health education, hygiene, and timely medical intervention remain essential to malaria control.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/6/1270malaria vaccinesmalaria prophylaxismalaria endemicityglobal health equityvaccine efficacy and implementation |
| spellingShingle | Rajesh Perumbilavil Kaithamanakallam Tirath Patel Bharati Balachandran Neville Fernandez Joseph Jillwin Dharambir Kashyap Aparna Shivaprasad Uttam Udayan Pragnesh Kalyandrug Aakanksha Aakanksha Prasanna Honnavar Malaria Vaccines and Global Equity: A Scoping Review of Current Progress and Future Directions Biomedicines malaria vaccines malaria prophylaxis malaria endemicity global health equity vaccine efficacy and implementation |
| title | Malaria Vaccines and Global Equity: A Scoping Review of Current Progress and Future Directions |
| title_full | Malaria Vaccines and Global Equity: A Scoping Review of Current Progress and Future Directions |
| title_fullStr | Malaria Vaccines and Global Equity: A Scoping Review of Current Progress and Future Directions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Malaria Vaccines and Global Equity: A Scoping Review of Current Progress and Future Directions |
| title_short | Malaria Vaccines and Global Equity: A Scoping Review of Current Progress and Future Directions |
| title_sort | malaria vaccines and global equity a scoping review of current progress and future directions |
| topic | malaria vaccines malaria prophylaxis malaria endemicity global health equity vaccine efficacy and implementation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/6/1270 |
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