The malaria vaccine, known as RTS,S or Mosquirix, is the first vaccine approved to prevent malaria, a mosquito-borne disease caused by the Plasmodium falciparum parasite. GlaxoSmithKline developed it in partnership with the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative. This vaccine targets the parasite's sporozoite stage, preventing it from infecting liver cells. Four doses of the vaccine are needed for it to be effective. Studies have shown that it can reduce severe malaria cases and hospital admissions by about 30%.