A malaria vaccine would be a significant breakthrough in the fight against the disease, although alternative strategies are recommended by specialists…
In recent years, several nations have successfully eradicated locally transmitted malaria using a variety of methods, including pesticides and efficient medicine treatments. However, it is widely believed that these methods are insufficient to eradicate malaria from sub-Saharan Africa and certain regions of Asia, where it is the most lethal disease.(A Malaria Vaccine , n.d.)
Many organizations have long backed the creation of potential malaria vaccines in an effort to decrease the spread of the disease and eventually eradicate it. Numerous strategies have so far showed promise in laboratory studies and small-scale human trials.
it has been discovered however that unlike the classic examples of diseases that have been eradicated or widely eliminated through vaccines — such as smallpox, polio, and diphtheria — malaria isn’t caused by a virus or bacteria rather, it’s caused by parasitic protozoans — single-cell organisms that have proved to be adept at evading the human body’s immune response.
with such complexity therefore, is a viable vaccine feasible?
I’m no expert on these matters, but I doubt a malaria vaccine is at hand. Nor am I sure that we can expect any such vaccine in the moderately-distant future.
So far there is a Malaria Vaccine, The RTS,S/AS01 recently approved by WHO. It is a game changer in the possible eradication of malaria and and some countries have started the rollout. However, the vaccine has its limitations:
It has about 65.9% efficacy
Efficacy wanes with time
Studies done have only shown safety and efficacy in children under 5
When combined however with seasonal chemoprevention, Efficacy is much more superior.
So The RTS,S vaccine despite being imperfect as a standalone intervention can significant help to reduce malaria mortalities in Children under five.
Studies for over malaria vaccines such as PfSPZ and R21 vaccines are currently on the way.
Once we can develop a longer lasting vaccine with stronger efficacy then we can talk of elimination.