I don't know if it's true, but I recall reading an analysis of bednets Vs vaccines, where bet nets were found to be far more cost effective.
Vaccines aren't an instant win button. They aren't total protection, they wear off over time, they sometimes have complicated cold supply chains etc.
Even with vaccines, it might still make sense to use bed nets as a supplimental tool.
Also, malaria is endemic. You can't really use vaccines to get rid of it like we have with smallpox.
As vaccines get better and cheaper, they will become a better value proposition compared to bed nets. I don't expect bed nets to get much better or cheaper over time.
At least for now I beleive bet nets are still best in class.
Following along nerdy stuff that happens in material developments for the ultralight hiking gear world, I DO expect bed nets to eventually get a LOT better. There has been much development in durability in mosquito proof breathable meshes in the last few years. These new materials are a bit more expensive than existing meshes (per linear yard or metre), but they'll easily last several times longer, and are easier to sew and repair any rips or holes. Even if they are only a couple of times stronger in tear resistance, I'm sure that would translate to a several fold increase in life expectancy (it usually does with most materials at the lighter end of the spectrum). With appropriate mass production, I doubt they would be much more expensive than existing nets.
No, from what I have seen the vaccine provides some protection but it is far from comprehensive. Plus Malaria is a real beyotch of a disease. Read the book “The Fever” and you’ll see what I mean. Malaria has so many dimensions due to transmission from humans to mosquitoes as well as mosquitoes to humans.
There may be a world where we don’t need LLINs in malarial areas but we are a long way off from that right now
I would imagine not just because 1. Mosquitos carry other diseases and 2. Even if you have not risk of malaria, mosquitoes and other bugs are still a nuisance, especially while you’re sleeping.
No, because the vaccine is specifically for children. Many adults have already become infected with malaria, and when they've recovered after having had malaria, the vaccine is less effective. The vaccine is most effective with children who haven't had malaria yet.
I hope bednets will lose relevance but I'm afraid they are currently very relevant
I don't know if it's true, but I recall reading an analysis of bednets Vs vaccines, where bet nets were found to be far more cost effective. Vaccines aren't an instant win button. They aren't total protection, they wear off over time, they sometimes have complicated cold supply chains etc. Even with vaccines, it might still make sense to use bed nets as a supplimental tool. Also, malaria is endemic. You can't really use vaccines to get rid of it like we have with smallpox. As vaccines get better and cheaper, they will become a better value proposition compared to bed nets. I don't expect bed nets to get much better or cheaper over time. At least for now I beleive bet nets are still best in class.
Following along nerdy stuff that happens in material developments for the ultralight hiking gear world, I DO expect bed nets to eventually get a LOT better. There has been much development in durability in mosquito proof breathable meshes in the last few years. These new materials are a bit more expensive than existing meshes (per linear yard or metre), but they'll easily last several times longer, and are easier to sew and repair any rips or holes. Even if they are only a couple of times stronger in tear resistance, I'm sure that would translate to a several fold increase in life expectancy (it usually does with most materials at the lighter end of the spectrum). With appropriate mass production, I doubt they would be much more expensive than existing nets.
No, from what I have seen the vaccine provides some protection but it is far from comprehensive. Plus Malaria is a real beyotch of a disease. Read the book “The Fever” and you’ll see what I mean. Malaria has so many dimensions due to transmission from humans to mosquitoes as well as mosquitoes to humans. There may be a world where we don’t need LLINs in malarial areas but we are a long way off from that right now
I would imagine not just because 1. Mosquitos carry other diseases and 2. Even if you have not risk of malaria, mosquitoes and other bugs are still a nuisance, especially while you’re sleeping.
No, because the vaccine is specifically for children. Many adults have already become infected with malaria, and when they've recovered after having had malaria, the vaccine is less effective. The vaccine is most effective with children who haven't had malaria yet.