Boris Johnson during a visit to the Jenner Institute in Oxford
(Picture: PA)The Oxford team which formulated a successful coronavirus vaccine candidate is preparing for the final stage of human trials of a jab against malaria.
Scientists at Oxford University’s Jenner Institute have been working on both vaccines.
The Jenner Institute director Adrian Hill said the malaria vaccine will be tested on 4,800 children in Africa next year after early trials yielded promising results.
Prof Hill said he hoped the jab could significantly cut the half a million deaths from the disease every year.
He told the Times: “Malaria is a public health emergency.
“A lot more people will die in Africa this year from malaria than will die from Covid. I don’t mean twice as many – probably ten times.
“(The vaccine) is going to be available in very large amounts, it works pretty well. And it’s going to be very low priced.”
Prof Hill added the vaccine could be in use by 2024, should the final human trials be successful.
The Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine is currently awaiting regulatory approval for use in the UK.
