http://news.yahoo.com/scientists-big-chink-malarias-armour-180508332.html
A few weeks ago, we heard about how a new malaria vaccine had been developed with more than a 50% success rate. In this last week though, there has been a breakthrough in malaria research. It has been found that the parasite can only enter red blood cells by attaching ligand, a protein, to a very specific receptor on the surface of red blood cells. By blocking this receptor from the parasite, we have a very effective way of preventing malaria. This would give way more than a 50% success rate. This is a huge step in eradicating malaria. By not allowing the parasite to get into the red blood cells, the parasite cannot reach the liver to produce. The parasites will die, and hopefully malaria will be a disease of the past.
Hopefully, like with the malaria vaccine being developed currently, this vaccine will also be offered at a very low price. Because not many in developed countries need it, and the ones who are really at risk live in the poorest regions of the world, namely Sub-Saharan Africa, this will make the vaccine very accessible. This is a great example of how industrialized, developed nations can help out undeveloped countries. We have the resources to do such research and manufacture life-saving supplies. Realizing that the people who need the vaccine the most can't afford it and driving the price lower is a large humanitarian effort and is a step in the right direction. This is also a prime example of a low-cost, yet effective intervention, given that the vaccine can be developed.
It is a good news that people can get a malaria vaccine for a cheaper prices in many developing countries. In an order to help people in developing countries, the first thing we have to consider is if the vaccine is affordable for people in developing countries. If vaccine is too expensive for people to buy, it is useless in developing countries. Also in order to develop these kinds of vaccines, developed countries' help is needed that developing countries can't really develop such thing alone.
ReplyDeleteThis is indeed a huge step, but it is only the beginning, as no actual vaccine has yet been made. Research is expensive, and it is unknown how easy it would be to administer a vaccine using this method, that is IF one can be made at all in a reasonable time frame. It might turn out to be impossible for a variety of reasons, after all. Since we already have a decent vaccine, most resources should be poured into that, since the benefits from that are immediate and stem from their own years of research. Better to invest in something that is known to work rather than gamble on something that might not.
ReplyDeleteThis just shows the amazing progress the medical community is making which will not only benefit people in the developed world, but also people in the developing world. Many medical advances that are being made today are geared towards the people of developed nations. This is because they are often breakthroughs for diseases that are more first world diseases, being that people live longer, and thats how they get affected by the diseases. The progress for people in the developing world will lead to a better overall medical understanding throughout the different parts of the world.
ReplyDeleteThis can only signal good things to come. Certainly there is a huge humanitarian effort to lower the costs but that doesn’t necessitate its inevitability. The resources spent in developing this vaccine must be recouped somehow. Likely, the government (or governments of several countries) will step in and endorse what has happened. On top of this issue is the fact that while results are extremely positive, it is still likely that it will be a few years until a widespread vaccine is made widely available.
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