The present invention is directed to a method of protecting an animal against against malaria caused by Plasmodium which undergoes more than one stage in its life cycle or undergoes more than one infectious cycle, the method comprising: a) administering to the animal a live vaccine containing sufficient Plasmodium sporozites that are low in pathogenicity and sensitive to one or more anti-malarial drugs to develop an immunological response in the animal; b) maintaining the animal free from anti-malarial drugs effective against Plasmodium for a period of time corresponding to about one life cycle or infectious cycle of the Plasmodium; and c) thereafter administering to the animal a anti-malarial drugs effective against Plasmodium for a period of time corresponding to at least one life cycle or infectious cycle of the Plasmodium.