On 100th anniversary of the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, Tuberculosis’s only available vaccine, experts have called on world leaders to deliver a new TB vaccine by 2025 to offers protection against the disease in adolescents and adults, the populations that are more likely to spread TB in the communities.
Executive director of the Stop TB Partnership, Dr Lucica Ditiu speaking at a virtual media briefing by The Stop TB Partnership to mark 100th anniversary of BCG, stated that there was the need to provide sufficient financial resources and political will by 2023 to allow for the rollout of an effective TB vaccine by 2025.
Dr Ditiu, represented by Dr Suvanand Sahu, Deputy Executive Director of the Stop TB Partnership stated that a similar investment in the past year to develop a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine should also be deployed by the world to roll out an effective TB vaccine by 2025.
According to him, in 2019, TB vaccine research and development received only US$117 million, which is the highest ever annual funding although it is estimated to require at least US$550 million per year.
He added, “The global community did agree to commit to a vaccine in the UN general assembly meeting on TB in 2018, but funding has not come about to get that vaccine.”
Dr Ditiu declared that TB is the deadliest infection faced by humanity, killing over 4000 people every day, including 700 children globally while making about 10 million people fall ill annually and its worst impart felt in the poorest parts of the world and among vulnerable groups.
Dittu said that the COVID-19 pandemic has reversed TB’s global response by 12 years and further delayed the SDGs goal of ending TB by 2030, so the importance of innovations, including the new TB vaccine to come back on track.
“With COVID-19 and impoverishment, it is possible that you may see an increase in cases of TB. Also, evidence emerging from India, although limited say that people who had recovered from COVID-19 are increasingly getting sick with TB. The Indian government has issued a notification to follow up for signs of TB in people who have recovered from COVID-19.”
Professor David Lewinsohn, Chair of Stop TB Partnership’s the Working Group on New TB Vaccines stated that there is the need for a new TB vaccine because the BCG vaccine only prevents severe forms and complications of childhood TB and disseminated TB.
According to him, the BCG vaccine has not been able to bring about a dramatic reduction in the burden of TB across the population.
He added, “It has not failed, what it has not done is to prevent TB disease and infection in adults and adolescents. It is really the adults with pulmonary TB that is largely responsible for its transmission.”
Professor Lewinsohn stated that more than 15 TB vaccines have been in development for over 15 years, but none of them has been approved for use because of gaps in funding for TB vaccine research and development.
According to him, “To interrupt ongoing transmission, we need new and more effective vaccines that can prevent TB in adolescents and adults.”
The expert assured that such vaccines when developed will also, prevent drug-resistant TB, an attraction to vaccination and hopefully prevention of TB transmission.
Professor Lewinsohn, however, declared that public-private investments could enable speed deployment of new TB vaccines and ensure its equitable distribution.
Ms Carol Nawina, a TB survivor and advocate in Zambia stated that effective vaccines are critical to ending the TB epidemic and advocate that future TB vaccines reach those most in need of it.
According to her, “if there was a vaccine, I would have been saved the double burden of TB/HIV. But, having a vaccine is not enough if it is not affordable and accessible to all. The distribution of COVID-19 vaccines has clearly shown the inequalities and inequities of a system that favours the rich. We will not accept such a situation in TB, and we must ensure future TB vaccines reach those most in need.”
Ms Nawina said the diversion of resources and equipment away from the TB programme to COVID pandemic response could affect past investments in TB, urging political leaders to prioritize investment in TB to save lives.
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