London

THE world's first malaria vaccine, developed by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), provides some protection after three doses but its effect dwindles to almost nothing after seven years, scientists said on Wednesday.

Publishing a long-term study of the vaccine - called RTS,S or Mosquirix and designed for children in Africa where the disease claims most of its victims - researchers said that the decline in its efficacy over time is fastest in children living in areas with higher than average rates of malaria.