NMA urges “caution” but “excited” about malaria vaccine

Nigeria Medical Association has urged “great caution” in interpreting findings on a possible malaria vaccine being trialled by American researchers. In a research published in the journal ‘Science’,  a team from the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease found that a malaria vaccine candidate conferred up to 100% protection on some study subjects […]

Nigeria Medical Association has urged “great caution” in interpreting findings on a possible malaria vaccine being trialled by American researchers.

In a research published in the journal ‘Science’,  a team from the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease found that a malaria vaccine candidate conferred up to 100% protection on some study subjects in a Phase 1 Clinical trial.

The findings have received great reception by the Nigerian medical establishment though further trials are necessary to know how long the conferred protection lasts and how effective it remains.

“As we await the outcome of further clinical trials of the vaccine candidate, the Nigerian Medical Association strongly advises great caution in the interpretation of the research finding as more field studies using a larger number of study subjects need to be conducted in order to validate the effectiveness of the vaccine and the duration of the malaria protective period,” said NMA president, Dr Osahon Enabulele in a statement Sunday.

But the association said it was excited by the outcome of the initial trial “on account of the fact that it offers great hope to the African region where malaria is pre-eminently endemic.”

It urged the national government to invest in research for “indigenous malaria vaccine in Nigeria that can protect against other strains of the Malaria parasite, besides Plasmodium Falciparum.”

Enabulele, who’s vice president of the Commonwealth Medical Association called for African scientists and researchers to “advance the study by replicating it in the various scientific research institutes in Nigeria.

Malaria is estimated to kill 600,000 each year and infects 219 million.

More than 30% of the global malaria burden is in Africa, and Nigeria accounts for a quarter.

The most recent Malaria Indicator Survey estimates malaria prevalence at 42%, affecting children under age five more than any other population.