NEW TB VACCINES COULD PREVENT MILLIONS OF DEATHS, EXPERT SAYS

Potential new vaccines being developed against tuberculosis could save millions of lives if successfully developed and made widely available, according to an expert. The development is seen as an important step in the global fight against TB, which continues to cause a large number of illnesses and deaths, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

The expert said the search for more effective TB vaccines remains important because the existing Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine does not provide the same level of protection against all forms of tuberculosis, particularly in adults. This has created a need for new vaccines that can offer stronger and longer-lasting protection against the disease.

Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria that primarily affect the lungs and can spread from person to person through the air. Although the disease is preventable and treatable, challenges such as late diagnosis, limited access to healthcare, drug-resistant strains and difficulties in reaching vulnerable populations continue to make TB a major public health concern.

The development of new vaccines could strengthen existing efforts to control the disease by reducing the number of people who become infected and develop active TB. Experts have stressed that effective vaccination, combined with early diagnosis, appropriate treatment and stronger public health programmes, would be crucial to reducing transmission and preventing avoidable deaths.

The expert therefore called for continued investment in TB vaccine research and development, as well as efforts to ensure that successful vaccines are affordable and accessible to people in countries carrying a heavy burden of the disease. Wider access to improved vaccines could significantly change the global response to tuberculosis and help reduce the number of lives lost to the disease each year.