A new systematic review and meta-analysis of eight studies shows that two malaria vaccines, RTS,S/AS01 and R21/Matrix-M, can significantly reduce the risk of malaria in children. The review looked at data from over 800 records and focused on two age groups: infants aged 6 to 12 weeks and children aged 5 to 17 months.
In the younger age group, the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine reduced the risk of malaria by 23%. In the older group, both vaccines cut the risk by 39%. However, the protection from RTS,S/AS01 declined over time, which suggests a booster dose may be needed. The R21 vaccine also showed high efficacy and strong antibody responses, but it was linked to more frequent side effects.
The RTS,S/AS01 vaccine was found to be safe across all age groups. The review did not report any serious adverse events or discontinuations. The findings are based on a limited number of studies and a short follow-up period of about 2.8 months, so more research is needed to understand long-term protection and safety.
For families in malaria-prone areas, these vaccines offer a promising tool to reduce the burden of this deadly disease. However, the review does not compare the vaccines directly to a placebo or provide guidance on which vaccine is better. Readers should discuss vaccination options with their healthcare provider.