Malaria kills over 600,000 each year globally, most of them children in Africa.

The award-giving body says they 'contributed to the unprecedented rate of vaccine development during one of the greatest threats to human health in modern times'.

The US Food and Drug Administration approved the shots for those aged 12 and above, and authorised them for emergency use in children aged 6 months through 11 years.

The company has said its shot generated an 8.7-fold increase in neutralising antibodies in humans against BA.2.86, which is being tracked by the WHO and the CDC.

Scientists have said BA.2.86, an offshoot of the Omicron variant, is unlikely to cause a devastating wave of severe disease and death, given immune defences built up worldwide from vaccination and prior infection.

The vaccine is to be used for preventing Covid-19 in adults and children with a dosage dependent on previous vaccinations.

The two cases are the first lawsuits brought in England and Wales over an adverse reaction to a Covid-19 vaccine.

Manufacturers have created new versions of their vaccine, which were updated to target the so-called XBB.1.5 subvariant that was dominant earlier this year in order to more closely resemble the circulating virus.

The approval of the vaccines could pave the way for possible sales abroad, a major breakthrough to tackle the deadly animal disease that regularly ravages pig farms worldwide.

Negative attitudes towards vaccines combined with increased confidence after primary vaccine series are factors associated with hesitancy towards booster doses.

Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni says his ministry might need to destroy the expired vaccines as only 2.5% of the population has taken a second booster shot.

Vaccine coverage among children has declined in 112 countries and the percent of children vaccinated worldwide slipped 5 points to 81% – a low not seen since 2008.