The detrimental impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak on TB services, as stated by the World Health Organization (WHO), have highlighted the necessity for vaccine innovation efforts.
During a high-level TB panel at the World Economic Forum, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus unveiled plans to create a new TB Vaccine Accelerator Council.
Ghebreyesus remarked that the council would promote the authorization and utilization of effective new TB vaccines by fostering high-level cooperation among funders, global entities, governments, and end users in identifying and addressing barriers to TB vaccine development.
“One of the most crucial lessons from the response to the COVID-19 pandemic is that groundbreaking health interventions can be delivered swiftly if they are prioritized politically and sufficiently financed.
“The issues posed by TB and COVID-19 differ, yet the elements that expedite science, research, and innovation remain consistent.
“Immediate, upfront public funding; backing from philanthropy; and involvement of the private sector and communities.
“We are confident that the TB sector will gain from similar high-level coordination,’’ he stated.
He mentioned that, despite nations making bold pledges to eliminate TB by 2030, as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals, the WHO End TB Strategy, and the 2018 political commitment to combat TB.
The WHO leader noted that the epidemic displayed no indications of deceleration. In 2021, around 10.6 million individuals contracted TB, and 1.6 million perished.
He pointed out that drug resistance remains a significant challenge, with nearly half a million individuals developing drug-resistant TB annually, and Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is currently the sole approved TB vaccine.
“While it offers moderate efficacy in preventing severe forms of TB in infants and young children, it does not sufficiently protect adolescents and adults, who account for nearly 90% of global TB transmissions,’’ Ghebreyesus mentioned.
He highlighted that a recent WHO-commissioned study, an investment proposal for new tuberculosis (TB) vaccines, estimates that over 25 years.
According to him, a vaccine that is 50 percent effective in preventing illness among adolescents and adults could prevent up to 76 million new TB cases.
Additionally, 8.5 million fatalities, 42 million courses of antibiotic treatment, and 6.5 billion dollars in expenses faced by TB-affected families, particularly among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable.
“A vaccine that is 75 percent effective could prevent up to 110 million new TB cases and 12.3 million deaths,’’ he stated.
Ghebreyesus further indicated that the study suggests that every dollar invested in a 50 percent effective vaccine could yield an economic return of US$ 7 in terms of averted healthcare expenses and heightened productivity.
He noted that later in 2023, Heads of States and Governments would convene for a second United Nations High-Level Meeting on TB to assess progress against commitments made in the 2018 political declaration.
According to him, this marks a significant opportunity to address setbacks in the TB response, which encompasses the urgent development and delivery of new TB vaccines. (NAN)
