DOCTOR’S NOTE

A new vaccine for malaria could help to eradicate the disease – after a push by the World Health Organisation.

Malaria is one of the biggest killers on the planet, claiming around 400,000 lives a year, mostly children under five.

But, until now, the only available vaccine worked for 12 months before becoming less effective than sleeping under a mosquito net.

However, a trial of a new vaccine called R21 showed it reduces the incidence of malaria by 77 per cent and shows no signs of becoming less effective after six and 12 months.

A new vaccine could end the mosquito’s threat