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Malaria Vaccine: Finally a Turning Point ?
24 avril 2026
By Ana Espino | Published on April 23, 2026 | 4 min readMalaria remains a major infectious disease, responsible for hundreds of millions of cases and around 600,000 deaths each year, mainly among young children in Africa. Despite existing prevention and treatment strategies, such as mosquito nets, insecticides, and antimalarial therapies, their effectiveness is limited by the emergence of resistan
By Ana Espino | Published
on April 23, 2026 | 4 min read
Malaria remains a major infectious disease, responsible for hundreds of millions of cases and around 600,000 deaths each year, mainly among young children in Africa. Despite existing prevention and treatment strategies, such as mosquito nets, insecticides, and antimalarial therapies, their effectiveness is limited by the emergence of resistance, both in the parasite and in mosquito vectors.
The development of vaccines appears to be a promising solution for sustainable disease control. However, several limitations hinder their effectiveness. The biological complexity of the Plasmodium parasite, characterized by a multi-stage life cycle with distinct antigens, as well as its high genetic variability, makes it difficult to induce broad and durable immunity. Moreover, natural immunity is often partial and short-lived, complicating the identification of effective vaccine targets. Practical constraints, such as vaccine stability, multi-dose schedules, and logistical challenges in resource-limited countries, also represent major obstacles.
Malaria remains a major infectious disease, responsible for hundreds of millions of cases and around 600,000 deaths each year, mainly among young children in Africa. Despite existing prevention and treatment strategies, such as mosquito nets, insecticides, and antimalarial therapies, their effectiveness is limited by the emergence of resistance, both in the parasite and in mosquito vectors.
The development of vaccines appears to be a promising solution for sustainable disease control. However, several limitations hinder their effectiveness. The biological complexity of the Plasmodium parasite, characterized by a multi-stage life cycle with distinct antigens, as well as its high genetic variability, makes it difficult to induce broad and durable immunity. Moreover, natural immunity is often partial and short-lived, complicating the identification of effective vaccine targets. Practical constraints, such as vaccine stability, multi-dose schedules, and logistical challenges in resource-limited countries, also represent major obstacles.
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Scientific reference
Chen J, et al. Malaria Vaccines: Current Achievements and Path Forward. Vaccines (Basel). 2025 May 19;13(5):542. doi: 10.3390/vaccines13050542. PMID: 40432151; PMCID: PMC12115420.
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