Next-Generation TB Shots May Be a Global Health Breakthrough
What Happened
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance says new tuberculosis (TB) vaccines expected to become available from 2029 could prevent up to 7.3 million deaths between 2030 and 2050. The vaccines are designed to protect adolescents and adults, addressing a major gap left by the century-old BCG vaccine, whose protection weakens over time. Gavi also estimates the vaccines could generate up to $135 billion in economic benefits for low- and middle-income countries.
Key Takeaways
TB remains the world's deadliest infectious disease, causing about 1.2 million deaths annually. Successful rollout of these new vaccines could significantly reduce the global TB burden, but Gavi warns that adequate funding, manufacturing capacity, and affordable supply will be critical to ensure access in high-burden countries.