WHO grants approval for R21 malaria vaccine deployment, it has India connect

The World Health Organization (WHO) has granted its recommendation for the use of the R21/Matrix-M™ malaria vaccine, a collaborative effort between the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India, affirming its adherence to crucial safety, quality, and efficacy standards.

Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India, expressed in an official statement, "Malaria has posed a significant threat to billions worldwide for far too long, especially affecting the most vulnerable among us. The WHO's endorsement of the R21/Matrix-M™ vaccine is a major milestone in our fight against this life-threatening ailment."

The Serum Institute of India has already established the capability to produce 100 million doses annually, a capacity set to double over the next two years, as outlined in the statement.

This vaccine was jointly developed by the Jenner Institute at Oxford University and the Serum Institute of India, with invaluable support from the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), the Wellcome Trust, and the European Investment Bank.

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