Mosquirix was the first malaria vaccine recommended for broad use by the World Health Organization in 2021.
Mosquirix, also known as RTS,S, targets Plasmodium falciparum, the malaria parasite responsible for the deadliest form of malaria in Africa. The vaccine uses a portion of the parasite’s circumsporozoite protein linked to hepatitis B surface antigen, together with an immune-stimulating adjuvant.
The WHO recommendation followed pilot programs in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi involving hundreds of thousands of children. Mosquirix provides partial protection, so bed nets, insecticide control, testing, and antimalarial medicines remain essential.
Mosquirix was not the first malaria vaccine candidate ever tested, and its protection is lower than that of many routine childhood vaccines. Its significance is that it became the first malaria vaccine to pass through large-scale evaluation and receive a WHO recommendation for broad public-health use.