WHO certifies new typhoid vaccine with lasting immunity

A new conjugate vaccine for typhoid fever, known as Bharat Biotech’s Typbar-TCV, has been certified for use by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

WHO’s certification of Bharat Biotech’s Typbar-TCV at the end of December 2017, followed the recommendation of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on immunisation that TCV be for routine use in children over 6 months of age in typhoid endemic countries.

The new typhoid conjugate vaccine is packaged to help curb the frequent use of antibiotics for treatment of presumed typhoid fever, thereby slowing the increase in antibiotic resistance in Salmonella Typhi.

TCVs provide lasting immunity than older vaccines, while treatment of typhoid is attained with fewer doses, and can be given to young children through routine childhood immunization programs.

SAGE had sought prequalification of the vaccine by WHO so that TCV can be introduced in countries with the highest burden of typhoid disease or those having antibiotic resistance to Salmonella Typhi.

Prequalification of the vaccine by WHO connotes that the vaccine meets acceptable standards of quality, safety, and efficacy.

The prequalification by WHO will also make the cost of TCVs cheaper especially in low and middle-income countries.
Global estimates of the typhoid burden range between 11 and 20 million cases and between about 128 000 and 161 000 typhoid deaths annually.