Mar 1, 2021 - Health

RNA technology used for COVID could lead to malaria vaccine

David Nather

Illustration of a vaccine bottle with a picture of the Earth on its label. — Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

The RNA technology that helped us get a COVID vaccine may help the world get a vaccine for malaria, too.

Driving the news: Scientists have applied for a patent for an RNA-based vaccine that might circumvent the problems that have made it difficult to come up with any kind of malaria vaccine, per the Academic Times.

It hasn't been tested on people yet, but one of the investors told the Times that it produced "probably the highest level of protection that has been seen in a mouse model."
The only other vaccine we have right now for malaria — which killed 409,000 people throughout the world in 2019, mostly in Africa — is only about 30% effective.

What they're saying: "I'm as excited about the Covid vaccine as anyone, but THIS is huge news," health care economist Aaron Carroll tweeted.

Yes, but: They should really test it on people. Until they do, the breakthrough isn't complete.

Still, if Aaron Carroll is excited about it, it's OK to get a little excited.

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RNA technology used for COVID could lead to malaria vaccine

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