| |APRIL 20269PRESIDENT DROUPADI MURMU URGES ACTION TO ELIMINATE TUBERCULOSISPFIZER-VALNEVA LYME VACCINE SHOWS STRONG PHASE 3 EFFICACYDroupadi Murmu called for urgent and collective efforts to eliminate Tuberculosis in India ahead of World Tuberculosis Day, stressing that the fight against TB requires strong public participation along with government action.She highlighted that despite being preventable and curable, Tuberculosis continues to impact millions, making TB elimination in India a national priority. Speaking on the need for awareness and early diagnosis, she emphasized that timely treatment and community support play a key role in reducing the spread of the disease.She pointed to ongoing initiatives under India's national programs, including free diagnosis, treatment, and nutritional support, aimed at strengthening the country's healthcare response.Murmu noted that efforts under the government's TB elimination campaign have improved access to care and increased detection rates, but challenges remain in reaching every affected individual. She urged healthcare workers, local communities, and citizens to actively participate in spreading awareness and supporting patients through recovery.The President also reinforced India's commitment to achieving its TB-free goal by accelerating interventions and improving healthcare infrastructure. She stressed that eliminating TB is not only a medical mission but also a social responsibility that requires sustained effort from all sections of society.As India continues to push toward its elimination target, her message highlights the importance of collaboration, awareness, and early action in tackling one of the country's most persistent public health challenges. POPfizer and Valneva have shared encouraging results from a late-stage clinical trial of their Lyme disease vaccine, offering new hope in the fight against a growing health concern.The vaccine candidate, known as Lyme disease vaccine VLA15, showed strong effectiveness in the phase 3 VALOR trial. It reduced confirmed Lyme disease cases by over aafter the fourth dose and 74.8% shortly after completing the full vaccination schedule. These results highlight the vaccine's potential to significantly lower infection risk.Although the study did not meet its primary endpoint in an earlier planned analysis mainly due to fewer cases recorded during that phase, the overall findings are still considered meaningful. Experts note that the vaccine consistently demonstrated protection across different time points in the clinical trial results.The VALOR trial was a large, carefully designed study conducted in regions where Lyme disease is common, including parts of the United States, Canada, and Europe. It included participants aged five years and older, who received four doses of either the vaccine or a placebo over two Lyme disease seasons, strengthening the data around Lyme disease prevention.Lyme disease is caused by bacteria transmitted through tick bites and is the most common vector-borne disease in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere. If left untreated, it can lead to serious complications affecting the joints, heart, and nervous system, making prevention especially important in managing tick-borne infections.What makes this vaccine unique is its approach. It targets a protein found on the bacteria while it is still inside the tick, helping to block transmission before the infection reaches humans. This innovative vaccine technology could redefine how such diseases are prevented. PO
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