Researchers test mosquitoes for malaria vaccine delivery method

Researchers in the Netherlands have tested a new method to deliver malaria vaccines using mosquitoes. In a clinical trial, mosquitoes were infected with modified malaria parasites that stimulate an immune response in humans, showing promising results. Nearly 90 percent of trial participants who were later bitten by natural malaria-carrying mosquitoes did not contract the disease. This suggests that the immune protection may last longer than current vaccines, which require frequent booster shots. Two effective malaria vaccines for children have been approved since 2021, significantly reducing cases. The World Health Organization plans to distribute millions of doses annually, combining traditional vaccines with innovative methods like mosquito delivery to combat malaria.