• India has achieved a major milestone in public health by launching its first indigenous multi-stage malaria vaccine.
• Developed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in collaboration with research partners, the vaccine prevents the malaria parasite from entering the bloodstream, offering early protection against the disease.
• Unlike existing options, the vaccine remains stable for more than nine months at room temperature, making it both cost-effective and accessible in resource-limited regions.
• To ensure large-scale availability, the government has licensed multiple pharmaceutical companies to manufacture and commercialise the vaccine.
• This breakthrough is expected to significantly curb malaria transmission and reduce the overall disease burden in India and other malaria-prone countries.