Proving the value of malaria vaccines: how case-control studies can guide immunisation strategies

A newly released video titled Proving the value of malaria vaccines: how case-control studies can guide immunisation strategies looks at the value of case control studies.

December 2025

Case control or observational studies were incorporated into the evaluation component of the Malaria Vaccine Pilot Implementation, conducted by the World Health Organization and partners in collaboration with Ministries of Health in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi from 2019 to 2023.

The case-control studies were meant to bolster the data and information on malaria vaccines. The studies were designed to ascertain the added health benefit of the fourth malaria vaccine dose, compared to a three-dose regimen; provide additional estimates of RTS,S effectiveness; and consolidate information about safety in children who are vaccinated with malaria vaccines. 

The studies were implemented by a consortium of partners, led by the Kintampo Health Research Centre in Ghana. They were supported by the European Union through funding from the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership. Findings from the case-control studies are meant to provide additional information to guide global and country decisions on malaria vaccine rollout.

This video provides valuable insights into the collaborative efforts and scientific rigor underpinning the MVPE-CC project, highlighting its significance in generating evidence to support the global fight against malaria.

Watch full video:  

About MVPE-CC:

The MVPE-CC project, part of the Malaria Vaccine Pilot Evaluation, uses case-control studies to assess the safety and effectiveness of the RTS,S malaria vaccine, including the added benefit of the fourth dose. By supporting national immunization and malaria programs, MVPE-CC helps strengthen their capacity to monitor vaccine safety and impact. Funded by the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), MVPE-CC is a collaborative project that brings together a multidisciplinary consortium led by Kintampo Health Research Centre (Ghana), alongside European Vaccine Initiative (Germany), African Research Collaboration for Health Limited (ARCH, Kenya), Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kenya), London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (UK), PATH (USA), and Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (Malawi). Learn more: https://mvpecc.kintampo-hrc.org/

This project is part of the EDCTP2 programme supported by the European Union (RIA2020S-3310-MVPE-CC)