Africa: New 'Blockbuster' Tuberculosis Vaccines Could Save Seven Million Lives by 2050
[GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance] Next-generation TB vaccines, expected to become available from 2029, could deliver major health and economic gains, helping to save an estimated 7.3 million lives, generate up to US$ 135 billion in economic benefits for low-and middle-income countries by 2050, and support efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance. Action must be taken now to ensure that countries…
New tuberculosis vaccines are expected to become available from 2029 and could save an estimated 7.3 million lives between 2030 and 2050. According to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, these vaccines could also generate up to $135 billion in economic benefits across low- and middle-income countries by mid-century. The vaccines, which target adolescents and adults, could become a major tool in combating the world's deadliest infectious disease.
The current vaccine, the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, is over 100 years old and while effective in protecting infants and young children, its protection wanes over time. Gavi warns that action is required now to prepare governments and vaccine manufacturers for the new vaccines' arrival, as demand could reach 86 million vaccination courses per year.
Gavi CEO, Dr Sania Nishtar, said the new vaccines could be the "next blockbuster immunisation tool" but only if sufficient, predictable, and affordable supply is ensured for countries with the highest disease burden. The World Health Organization estimated that tuberculosis caused 1.23 million deaths in 2024.
Brief written by urgent.news from AllAfrica, AllAfrica Health, ProPakistani, The Citizen — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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