New tuberculosis (TB) vaccines that could become available from 2029 have the potential to save more than seven million lives over a 20-year period, according to the global vaccine alliance Gavi.
However, the organisation stressed that the vaccines’ impact will depend heavily on ensuring that countries with the highest TB burden have access to sufficient, affordable and reliable supplies.
Sania Nishtar, head of Gavi, described the potential new vaccines as the “next blockbuster immunization tool”.
“However, they will only realise their potential if we are able to ensure sufficient, predictable and affordable supply for those countries with the highest disease burden,” she said in a statement.
Tuberculosis remains the world’s deadliest infectious disease, with an estimated 1.23 million people dying from TB in 2024, according to the latest figures from the World Health Organisation.
The only TB vaccine currently licensed for use is the Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine, which has been available for more than a century.
Gavi noted that while BCG provides important protection against severe forms of TB among babies and young children, its effectiveness decreases over time.
The organisation is therefore hopeful that several new vaccines currently in development could provide stronger protection against TB among adolescents and adults.
With the first promising candidates potentially receiving regulatory approval before the end of the decade, a new Gavi analysis estimated that the vaccines “could avert up to 7.3 million deaths from 2030 through 2050”.
The analysis also found that the vaccines could generate major economic gains, with the potential for “unlocking up to $135 billion in economic benefits across low- and middle-income countries” by 2050.
Despite the promising outlook, Gavi identified several challenges that could delay the global rollout of the vaccines after approval.
These include inadequate domestic and international funding, which could restrict countries’ ability to introduce the vaccines. Uncertainty over future demand could also discourage manufacturers from investing in production capacity for late-stage vaccine candidates, potentially creating supply shortages.
Gavi, which works with governments and private donors to help developing countries access essential vaccines at affordable prices, said it is already working to promote adequate and affordable supplies once the new TB vaccines receive approval.
The alliance also plans to encourage widespread vaccination through routine immunization programmes and “encourage a competitive and geographically diverse pipeline of novel TB vaccine candidates”.
Nishtar said preparations must begin early to ensure countries can obtain enough doses when the vaccines eventually become available.
“In order to help countries secure doses in the volumes they need, we are beginning to work with partners now to lay the groundwork for timely access when these vaccines become available,” Nishtar said.
