First Shipment of R21/Matrix-M™ Malaria Vaccine Doses from Serum Institute of India Arrives in Africa

Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest manufacturer of vaccines, has achieved a significant milestone with the shipment of its first set of R21/Matrix-M™ malaria vaccine to Africa. The distribution of this vaccine marks a crucial step in the global fight against malaria, with the initial shipment being sent to the Central African Republic (CAR), followed by other African countries such as South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Out of the total 1,63,800 doses allocated for the CAR region, only 43,200 doses will be dispatched today from Serum Institute of India’s facility. The R21/Matrix-M vaccine, developed in collaboration with the University of Oxford and Novavax’s Matrix-M™ adjuvant, is the second malaria vaccine authorized for use in children in malaria-endemic regions.

The flag-off ceremony of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine took place at Serum Institute of India’s facility in Pune, with notable dignitaries and US delegates in attendance. The successful global partnership between Serum Institute of India, Novavax, and the University of Oxford was celebrated during the event, highlighting the collaborative efforts in the fight against malaria.

With a capacity to scale up to 100 million doses annually, Serum Institute of India has manufactured 25 million doses of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine. The development and distribution of this vaccine represent a significant step towards a world free from the burden of malaria, saving hundreds of thousands of lives each year.