The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) announced on July 1, 2024, that the film "The Battle to Beat Malaria" will be featured on BBC Horizon, the long-running popular science and philosophy documentary program. 

The film premiered in the UK on Monday, 22nd July at 8pm on BBC2 and is available to view on BBC iPlayer (Linked below). 

This documentary, made by Wingspan Productions, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, and ARTE France, in association with BBC and NOVA/GBH celebrates the scientific breakthrough of the R21 malaria vaccine, highlighting the achievements of Oxford University, the Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) in Tanzania, and their global partners.

Since October 2021, Ifakara has been a key partner in conducting crucial Phase 3 clinical trials of the R21 malaria vaccine. These trials have directly assessed the vaccine's effectiveness in children under five, the demographic most affected by malaria, at trial sites such as Miono and Kiwangwa in Bagamoyo District, Tanzania.

The R21 vaccine's success story is a testament to international collaboration. While the Oxford team spearheaded the vaccine's development, Ifakara’s role in conducting clinical trials was a critical bridge between the lab and real-world application. The BBC Horizon documentary promises to provide a comprehensive look at the R21 vaccine's journey and inspire continued global collaboration in the fight against malaria.

The R21/Matrix-M vaccine roll out is due to begin this month. According to the World Health Organization, at least 30 countries in Africa plan to introduce malaria vaccines into their childhood immunization programmes.

If you are in the UK  or US , watch it on BBC iPlayer:  https://tinyurl.com/fand4wp5 and PBS: https://tinyurl.com/hdv9pwc2 respectively; the links are in the story below. For the rest of the world, the film will be available soon via BBC Studios.

Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/P7EdlZQrJb4?si=u5FjGY1Y2Z2i-jIr