Expert Panel: India Not Eligible for Malaria Vaccine Rollout, Says Govt

Rapid summary

• An expert commitee has assessed teh relevance of adopting malaria vaccines in India.
• The committee determined that India does not meet the criteria for using malaria vaccines, which are typically deployed in moderate too high transmission settings where there is a meaningful risk of deaths among children.
• Minister of State for Health, Anupriya Patel, shared this facts in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on August 12, 2025.
• IndiaS first malaria vaccine, R21/Matrix-M, co-developed by oxford University and Serum institute of India, had raised questions about its regulatory approval and potential use.

Indian Opinion analysis

The decision to refrain from adopting malaria vaccines highlights the importance of context-specific health policies. India’s low to moderate transmission rates do not mirror conditions seen in high-risk nations for which these vaccines were developed. this prudent approach ensures resources can focus on more pressing public health needs while alternative measures against malaria such as hygiene improvement and vector control continue to play pivotal roles. The statement also brings attention to how domestic vaccine innovations like R21/Matrix-M may see practical utility mostly outside Indian borders unless epidemiological conditions change significantly.

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