Gavi: New tuberculosis vaccines could save millions of lives

New tuberculosis (TB) vaccines currently in development could save millions of lives and provide significant economic benefits to low- and middle-income countries. Sania Nishtar, head of the Gavi global vaccine alliance, stated that these vaccines have the potential to become the ‘next blockbuster immunisation tool’.

With the first new candidate vaccines expected to receive regulatory approval by the end of the decade, Gavi estimates that up to 7.3 million deaths could be averted between 2030 and 2050. This is a critical development as the only currently licensed vaccine, the Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG), is over 100 years old and its effectiveness wanes over time.

According to World Health Organization data, tuberculosis claimed approximately 1.23 million lives in 2024. Gavi emphasized that the success of these new vaccines depends on ensuring a sufficient, predictable, and affordable supply for the countries facing the highest disease burden. Furthermore, the rollout could unlock up to $135 billion in economic benefits across developing nations by mid-century.