Malaria vaccine shows promise in Africa tests

AP Photo

A child is vaccinated by an unidentified worker as part of a Malaria vaccine trial in Bagamoyo, Tanzania in Aug. 2007. A vaccine that may become the world’s first to prevent malaria shows promise in protecting African children, researchers said Monday, calling the results a ‘major milestone.’ In early tests, the experimental vaccine was more than 50 percent effective in preventing the deadly disease in infants and toddlers in two countries in Africa, the scientists said. A larger and longer test is expected to begin early next year, the latest effort at slowing a disease that kills nearly 1 million people annually.