Reading Test C1 - Esercizio 6

Read the text and fill the gaps with the correct sentences A-H. Write the letter of the missing sentence in the box in the gap. There are two extra sentences you will not need.

Malaria – The Future?

Further doubts about the future of the world’s first malaria vaccine have been raised by recent research that shows the protection given by three doses declines to almost nothing over seven years.

As the vaccine wears off, the study shows that children living in areas where there is high transmission of the disease end up with more infections than those who have never had a jab – known as the malaria rebound effect. 1.

Four doses are known to protect children for longer, but the protection will still wane over time. 2. In spite of these results, those behind the development of the vaccine said it must still be rolled out in pilot programmes to thousands of children in Africa as planned; the only difference being that the children will be given four doses rather than three.

The toll in death and disability from malaria among children is so great, that the vaccine still could have a role to play in decreasing the number of cases in the early years of life, say those behind the vaccine’s development.

3. ‘Since children were getting malaria at a later age,’ he said, ‘we need to make sure we also have got immunity during that age period as well. 4.

‘Since children were getting malaria at a later age,’ he said, ‘we need to make sure we also have got immunity during that age period as well. 4.

The World Health Organisation pointed out that the new study was a small follow-up of about 400 children. 5. ‘The results indicate that efficacy wanes over time and clearly signal, which is important for policy decisions, the need for a fourth dose of the vaccine,’ said a spokesperson.

The trial found that during the first year, the risk of getting malaria in the vaccinated children was 35.9% less than in the control group. 6. The researchers eventually commented: While our results raise the possibility that being exposed to very high levels of malaria parasites may undo some of the benefits of the vaccine, our sample size was too small to draw any definitive conclusions about the long-term efficacy of the vaccine.’

A. Dr David Kaslow, vice-president for product development at Path, a non-profit organisation, said up to six doses could be needed to maintain the protective effect.

B. However, after seven years this protection fell to 4.4%.

C. Unvaccinated children – if they survive malaria – develop some natural immunity over the years.

D. This verifies the need for a 4th dose and potentially a 5th and 6th dose.

E. It will also significantly increase the costs.

F. Our results raise the possibility that being exposed to very high levels of malaria parasites may undo benefits of RTS, SG.

G. These were vaccinated in an early stage of the trials and only got three doses.

H. The question is ‘are we just kicking the can down the road?’ said Prof Philip Bejon, director of the programme, conducting the latest study in Kenya.

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