IT’S TIME TO TEST MOSQUIRIX IN PALAWAN

 IT’S TIME TO TEST MOSQUIRIX IN PALAWAN

To my surprise—and perhaps yours too—the Anopheles mosquito, the primary carrier of malaria, is still very much alive and buzzing… in Palawan.

We often talk about dengue and its deadly impact, but we forget that malaria is quietly lingering in the shadows. According to recent data, 6,188 out of the 6,248 malaria cases in the Philippines came from Palawan. That’s more than 99%. So, if we're going to act on malaria at all, we clearly know where to start.

For those unfamiliar with the disease: malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites, spread through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. These parasites enter the bloodstream, head for the liver, multiply, and eventually infect red blood cells—bringing with them fever, chills, headaches, and in severe cases, anemia, organ failure, or even cerebral malaria.

Now here’s where the conversation gets more urgent—and hopeful.

There is a vaccine. It’s called Mosquirix (scientific name: RTS, S/AS01). Developed by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in collaboration with the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative and supported in part by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mosquirix has shown promising results in African pilot programs. According online sources, the vaccine reduces hospital admissions from severe malaria by 30% and decreases toddler deaths by 15%. And yet—despite those impressive numbers—it’s not yet being used here in the Philippines.

Let me ask, why not?

I have searched for any sign that our Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been approached for approval, either by GSK’s local office or by any interested government entity. But there’s radio silence. Given the urgency and the focused need in Palawan, one would expect at least a pilot test or an application for importation. Sadly, nothing so far.

What makes this frustrating is that unlike during the COVID-19 pandemic, when we were forced to use hastily approved vaccines out of desperation, Mosquirix has already gone through years of trials and real-world testing. The World Health Organization (WHO) itself has recommended it for use in children in malaria-endemic areas. If that’s not a green light, I don’t know what is.

So, let’s talk action.

If Palawan is the clear hotspot, then why not begin our pilot testing there? With the right coordination, this can be done swiftly and effectively. The infrastructure exists: we have regional hospitals, local government units, and even NGOs on the ground who are used to working with public health programs. All we need is the political will and the bureaucratic coordination.

May I humbly suggest a few steps?

·       Let’s start with GSK’s local office. Surely, they can initiate the FDA application and coordinate with their UK headquarters.

·       Let’s involve Microsoft’s local office as well. While they didn’t develop Mosquirix, they’re heavily invested in global health data and public health analytics. They could help us connect with key decision-makers or aid with vaccine tracking tools.

·       The Department of Health (DOH) can immediately reach out to the WHO regional office to align with international standards.

·       The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) can instruct our embassies in London and Washington D.C. to open lines with GSK and global health partners.

·       And of course, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) can offer regulatory guidance and incentives for private-public collaboration.

Let me also point out something we tend to overlook: the Philippines is a mosquito-prone country. We already know about dengue and now malaria—but who knows what other mosquito-borne diseases could surface in the future? Climate change, increased travel, and urbanization are only raising the risks.

So I ask: why not build a long-term national mosquito-borne disease defense strategy, and let the Mosquirix pilot in Palawan be the first test case?

If we move decisively now, we can position the Philippines as a regional leader in tropical disease control—instead of always playing catch-up. We’ve done it before in disaster response and digital payments. Why not in public health?

In closing, let me reiterate that inaction is also a decision—and often a costly one. We have a tool. We have the data. We have a clearly identified problem area. All that’s missing is for someone to say: “Let’s begin.”

Let that someone be us.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

08-12-2025