The Oxford team that successfully created the COVID-19 vaccine, is also close to entering the final stages of human trials in their bid to develop an antidote against malaria, reported English media outlet Skynews.

The Jenner Institute director Adrian Hill, in a recent interview, stated that its much-anticipated injection that acts as an antidote against malaria will be tested on more than 4,800 children across African countries next year, as earlier trials have shown positive results.

Professor Hill further stated that the vaccine could be ready by 2024, only if preliminary human trials were carried out successfully.

Also Read: US companies come forward to contribute in COVID-19 vaccine delivery

Malaria, a disease caused by a plasmodium parasite, is transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes.

The severity of the disease varies based on the species of plasmodium.

Symptoms of the disease include chills, fever and sweating, usually occurring a few weeks after being bitten. The mosquito-borne disease caused more than 400,000 deaths across the world in 2019, according to the World Health Organization. It adds that nearly half of the world’s population can contract the disease.

Young children and pregnant women are most vulnerable to catching the infection, especially in areas where the transmission of the disease is high.

UNICEF has labelled the disease as “the largest killer of children,” stating that one child dies of the disease every 30 seconds, with 3,000 deaths happening daily.

UNICEF further states that 90% of cases of malaria are reported from sub-Saharan Africa and children under five account for 65% of all deaths.

Professor Hill further told the media,  “Malaria is a public health emergency.”

Also Read: Joe Biden offers to take COVID-19 vaccine in public

“A lot more people will die in Africa this year from malaria than will die from COVID-19. I don’t mean twice as many – probably ten times,” he added

The professor said, “(The vaccine) is going to be available in very large amounts, it works pretty well. And it’s going to be very low priced.”