Malaria vaccine efficacy, safety, and community perception in Africa: a scoping review of recent empirical studies

Chutiyami, Muhammad and Saravanakumar, Priya and Bello, Umar Muhammad and Salihu, Dauda and Adeleye, Khadijat and Kolo, Mustapha Adam and Dawa, Kabiru Kasamu and Hamina, Dathini and Bhandari, Pratibha and Sulaiman, Surajo Kamilu and Sim, Jenny (2024) Malaria vaccine efficacy, safety, and community perception in Africa: a scoping review of recent empirical studies. Infection. ISSN 1439-0973

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Abstract

Aim The review summarizes the recent empirical evidence on the efcacy, safety, and community perception of malaria vaccines in Africa. Methods Academic Search Complete, African Journals Online, CINAHL, Medline, PsychInfo, and two gray literature sources were searched in January 2023, and updated in June 2023. Relevant studies published from 2012 were included. Studies were screened, appraised, and synthesized in line with the review aim. Statistical results are presented as 95% Confdence Intervals and proportions/percentages. Results Sixty-six (N=66) studies met the inclusion criteria. Of the vaccines identifed, overall efcacy at 12 months was highest for the R21 vaccine (N=3) at 77.0%, compared to the RTS,S vaccine (N=15) at 55%. The efcacy of other vaccines was BK-SE36 (11.0–50.0%, N=1), ChAd63/MVA ME-TRAP (− 4.7–19.4%, N=2), FMP2.1/AS02A (7.6–9.9%, N=1), GMZ2 (0.6–60.0%, N=5), PfPZ (20.0–100.0%, N=5), and PfSPZ-CVac (24.8–33.6%, N=1). Injection site pain and fever were the most common adverse events (N=26), while febrile convulsion (N=8) was the most reported, vaccine-related Serious Adverse Event. Mixed perceptions of malaria vaccines were found in African communities (N=17); awareness was generally low, ranging from 11% in Tanzania to 60% in Nigeria (N=9), compared to willingness to accept the vaccines, which varied from 32.3% in Ethiopia to 96% in Sierra Leone (N=15). Other issues include availability, logistics, and misconceptions. Conclusion Malaria vaccines protect against malaria infection in varying degrees, with severe side efects rarely occurring. Further research is required to improve vaccine efcacy and community involvement is needed to ensure successful widespread use in African communities.

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