Vaccines Global Summit

Vector-borne infections are a critical component of the infectious disease landscape, primarily transmitted by insects and arthropods, with mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas being the most significant vectors. Key infections associated with these vectors include malaria, dengue, Zika virus, and Lyme disease, which pose substantial challenges to global health efforts, particularly in the tropics and subtropics. Effectively combating these diseases has the potential to save millions of lives and prevent countless instances of illness.

Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites and transmitted through the bites of Anopheles mosquitoes. It has been a focus of vaccination efforts for decades. The introduction of the first malaria vaccine, RTS,S/AS01 (Mosquirix), has provided new hope for malaria prevention, particularly in young children who are most vulnerable to infection. While the vaccine is not fully immunogenic, studies indicate that it significantly reduces cases of severe malaria and associated mortality rates in high-risk areas. Ongoing research aims to develop next-generation malaria vaccines that offer prolonged and robust protection.

Dengue fever, another mosquito-borne viral infection, affects millions annually in tropical and subtropical regions. The Dengvaxia vaccine has been approved for specific populations to build immunity against the most prevalent dengue strains. Additionally, new vaccines targeting all four serotypes of the dengue virus are under development, promising broader protection and a potential decline in dengue cases, thereby alleviating the burden on health systems during outbreaks.

Zika virus, primarily transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, gained international attention during the 2015-2016 outbreak. Current research is focused on developing a Zika vaccine to prevent future outbreaks, particularly among vulnerable groups such as pregnant women.

Lyme disease vaccines are also in development to combat tick-borne infections, which have been on the rise in North America and Europe.

The advancement of vaccines against vector-borne diseases represents a vital effort to improve global health, especially in regions with high transmission rates. By preventing these diseases, vaccines can significantly reduce the human and economic costs associated with vector-borne illnesses, fostering stronger and healthier communities.