New TB vaccines could save millions of lives by 2050

New tuberculosis (TB) vaccines expected to be ready by 2029 could save about 7.3 million lives worldwide from 2030 to 2050, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has announced.

This information was shared in a statement from Gavi on Monday.

The alliance also mentioned that these vaccines could bring up to $135 billion in economic benefits to low- and middle-income countries.

Gavi called the potential vaccines some of the most important new immunization tools in many years and a big step in the fight against TB, which is the deadliest infectious disease in the world.

But Gavi warned that governments and vaccine makers need to start planning now to ensure there is enough, affordable, and timely supply when the vaccines are available.

They noted that low- and middle-income countries could need about 85 million vaccination courses each year, with demand likely to be higher in the early years as countries with high TB rates look to protect more people across different age groups.

"New TB vaccines could be the next big immunization tool; but they will only reach their full potential if we can guarantee enough, reliable, and affordable supply for countries with the highest disease burden," said Gavi's Chief Executive Officer, Sania Nishtar.

Ms Nishtar mentioned that Gavi has started working with partners to ensure timely access to the vaccines and help countries get the amounts they will need.

Gavi stated that about 10.7 million people developed TB and 1.2 million died from the disease worldwide in 2024.

They said the burden mainly affects low- and middle-income countries, with countries supported by Gavi accounting for around 77 percent of all TB deaths.

The alliance pointed out that the only licensed TB vaccine, Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), is over 100 years old.

While BCG is effective in protecting babies and young children from severe TB, its effectiveness decreases over time. This shows the need for new tools to protect teenagers and adults.

Gavi said the new vaccine candidates aim to prevent infectious pulmonary TB in teenagers and adults and could greatly improve efforts to control the disease.

They identified several risks that could delay the rollout of the vaccines, including lack of funding, uncertainty about demand, limited manufacturing capacity, and gaps in research.

To tackle these issues, Gavi plans to ensure there is enough, timely, affordable, and sustainable vaccine supply. They will also support widespread use through regular immunization and targeted campaigns to catch up.

Gavi said several countries with high TB rates, including those hosting vaccine trials, are already preparing for the rollout of the vaccines.

They will keep working with partners through the WHO TB Vaccine Accelerator’s Finance and Access Working Group to support efforts for quick and fair access to the vaccines.

Gavi mentioned that early modeling by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) provided the basis for the estimate of 7.3 million lives that could be saved by targeting high-risk groups and adolescents through routine immunization and catch-up campaigns.

NAN reports that this modeling assumed a 50 percent effectiveness against TB disease, regardless of previous exposure, with immunity lasting around 10 years.