Tedros Adhanom, WHO Director-General, announced the launch of a plan to do something similar in terms of producing immunogens against this disease as was done with the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19.
The mechanism, called the Tuberculosis Vaccine Accelerator Council, should streamline coordination between funders, world organizations, governments and patients to identify and overcome obstacles to the endeavour, he explained.
Adhanom specified that, as in the case of Covid-19, it is necessary to implement innovative health interventions that can be realized based on political will and adequate funding.
Science, research, innovation and public investment must be accelerated in addition to private sector and local government engagement, he stressed.
Adhanom emphasized that there are at least 16 vaccine candidates in the development phase and I regret that none have been approved for 100 years.
He recalled that “BCG is currently the only approved vaccine against the disease, and while it offers moderate efficacy in preventing severe forms of tuberculosis in infants and young children, it protects adolescents and adults, who make up about 90 percent of the population, not appropriate . Hundred cases worldwide.
In 2021, more than 10 million people contracted the disease, and while it is preventable and curable, approximately 1.5 million people lose their lives each year, making it the leading cause of infectious disease deaths worldwide.
According to medical literature, tuberculosis is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis and usually affects the lungs.
It is spread through the air when people cough, sneeze, or spit.
It is the leading cause of death in people living with HIV and also a leading cause of antimicrobial resistance. Most people who get TB live in low- and middle-income countries, but it is common around the world.
“About half of people with the disease are found in eight countries: Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and South Africa,” WHO said.
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