Shortage of malaria vaccines for kids who need it most

With drug resistance towards malarial treatments growing, the medical community is increasingly looking towards vaccines to halt the spread of this mosquito-borne disease. — AFP

After decades of work, the World Health Organization (WHO) endorsed the first-ever malaria vaccine last year – a historic milestone that promised to drive back a disease that kills a child every minute.

In reality, efforts are falling well short of that, with a lack of funding and commercial potential thwarting GSK Plc’s capacity to produce as many doses of its shot as needed, according to interviews with about a dozen WHO officials, GSK staff, scientists and non-profit groups.