第2093期:Cameroon Launches First Malaria Vaccine Program for Children

Cameroon has begun the world’s first major malaria vaccine program for children.

喀麦隆已启动世界上第一个针对儿童的大型疟疾疫苗计划。

The campaign launched Monday in the Central African nation. Health officials called the effort a major step in the fight against the disease across Africa. The continent accounts for about 95 percent of the world’s malaria deaths.

该活动周一在这个中非国家发起。 卫生官员称这一努力是整个非洲抗击这种疾病的重要一步。 非洲大陆约占世界疟疾死亡人数的 95%。

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the disease, which is spread through mosquitos, kills more than 600,000 people a year. Most of the deaths involve young children.

世界卫生组织 (WHO) 估计，这种通过蚊子传播的疾病每年导致超过 60 万人死亡。 大多数死亡涉及幼儿。

The vaccine, called RTS.S, was developed by British drug company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). It is meant to work with other preventive measures, such as the use of bed nets, to fight the disease.

该疫苗名为RTS.S，由英国制药公司葛兰素史克（GSK）开发。 它旨在与其他预防措施（例如使用蚊帐）一起对抗这种疾病。

Cameroon is the first country to offer vaccine injections through a routine program after successful tests, or trials, were carried out in Ghana and Kenya. Cameroon hopes to vaccinate about 250,000 children this year and next.

在加纳和肯尼亚进行成功的测试或试验后，喀麦隆成为第一个通过常规计划提供疫苗注射的国家。 喀麦隆希望今明两年为约25万名儿童接种疫苗。

The international vaccine alliance called Gavi has said 19 other countries aim to launch their own campaigns this year. About 6.6 million children in those countries are to receive malaria vaccinations in 2024 and 2025.

名为 Gavi 的国际疫苗联盟表示，其他 19 个国家计划在今年发起自己的疫苗接种运动。 2024 年和 2025 年，这些国家约有 660 万儿童将接受疟疾疫苗接种。

"For a long time, we have been waiting for a day like this," said Mohammed Abdulaziz. He is with the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Abdulaziz spoke during a joint news briefing with the WHO, Gavi and other organizations.

穆罕默德·阿卜杜勒阿齐兹说：“很长一段时间以来，我们一直在等待这样的一天。” 他在非洲疾病控制和预防中心工作。 阿卜杜勒阿齐兹在与世界卫生组织、全球免疫联盟和其他组织举行的联合新闻发布会上发表了讲话。

Cameroon is using one of two recently approved malaria vaccines, called Mosquirix. When the WHO approved the vaccine two years ago, officials admitted it was not perfect. But they noted its use could sharply reduce severe infections and hospitalizations.

喀麦隆正在使用最近批准的两种疟疾疫苗之一，称为 Mosquirix。 当世界卫生组织两年前批准该疫苗时，官员们承认它并不完美。 但他们指出，它的使用可以大幅减少严重感染和住院治疗。

The GSK-produced shot is only about 30 percent effective. It requires four shots, or doses. Tests have shown the vaccine’s protection begins to weaken after several months. GSK has said it can only produce about 15 million doses of Mosquirix a year.

葛兰素史克生产的注射剂只有约 30% 的效率。 它需要四次注射或剂量。 测试表明疫苗的保护作用在几个月后开始减弱。 GSK 表示，每年只能生产约 1500 万剂 Mosquirix。

Some experts believe a second malaria vaccine developed by Oxford University and approved by the WHO in October may be a better solution. That vaccine, called R21, is less costly and only requires three doses.

一些专家认为，由牛津大学开发并于 10 月获得世界卫生组织批准的第二种疟疾疫苗可能是更好的解决方案。 这种疫苗称为 R21，成本较低，并且只需要三剂。