WHO Urges Global Action for Equitable TB Vaccine Access

In order to guarantee that innovative tuberculosis (TB) vaccines reach adults and adolescents in high-burden nations, a new WHO report that was released on the fringes of the G20 Health Ministers Meeting in Limpopo, South Africa, argues for daring finance and access initiatives.

The report, “Catalysing solutions for equitable global access for sustainable financing for novel tuberculosis vaccines for adults and adolescents,” presents a first-of-its-kind analysis of the anticipated barriers, bottlenecks, and market dynamics that could impact timely, equitable, and sustainable access to novel TB vaccines.

“New TB vaccines have the potential to save millions of lives faster and change the course of the epidemic,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO. “By harnessing the power of science, partnership and finance, we can realize our shared vision to end TB.”

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The Finance and Access Working Group of the TB Vaccine Accelerator Council, which is co-convened by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and WHO, the South African government, created the latest report. The report outlines six key initiatives to guarantee equitable and sustainable access to TB vaccines globally: creating catalytic tools, producing evidence at the national level, raising funds, supporting local production in high-burden areas, and fostering market transparency.

Adult and teenage TB vaccinations are essential to changing and quickening the battle against the deadliest infectious disease in the world. Over 10 million people contract tuberculosis (TB) each year, and over a million people die from the illness, primarily in low- and middle-income nations. G20 nations and regions bear at least 70% of this burden.