Prior to approval for the use in Africa, the world’s first ever malaria vaccine has jumped one of the last hurdles. After checking for it's effectiveness and safety, The European Medicines Agency gave a positive scientific opinion. It represents a ‘go ahead’ for the Mosquirix jab, which was developed by GlaxoSmithKline. Later this year, The World Health Organization (WHO) will consider whether it can be recommended for children, previous trial results among whom, have provided mixed results.

The shot is approximately 10 years in front of other vaccines for malaria in development. It's target being the deadly version of the malaria prevailing in sub-Saharan Africa.

Malaria kills approximately 584,000 people globally, each year, most of whom are children under the age of five in sub-Saharan Africa. Mosquirix, also known as the RTS,S vaccine, is the first in humans, against a parasitic infection. At this point the company hasn't made the price known, but has guaranteed not to make any profit from it.

Over 80 per cent of deaths from malaria are in children below the age of five years. GSK's chief executive, Andrew-Witty, said the positive endorsement from the European Medicines Agency EMA) was another important step close to making the first global malaria vaccine which will be accessible for young children.

Some professionals who specialize in malaria are concerned that the potential costs and complexities of setting up this first vaccine knowing that it provides only partial protection make it more risky and less attractive. Joe Cohen who is a GSK scientist, however, who has been at the head of development of Mosquirix since 1987, said he did not doubt that the vaccine could substantially reduce the rate of illness and death caused by malaria among children in Africa. This being due to it's efficacy, in averting deaths, being tremendous.

GSK has said it would set a the vaccine at a price which will cover costs and also have a marginal profit of 5%, so as to reinvest in research regarding malaria and as well as other diseases that are often neglected.

The vaccine was developed in Belgium at the drugmaker’s labs in conjunction with the international non-profit organisation Path. This research began in the late 1980s and was funded in part by the Gates Foundation. This Foundation has provided in excess of $200m in grants since 2001. That being said, GSK has invested over $365m and is expected to contribute a further $200-250m until the completion of development.