Working Group on New TB Vaccines - Home

No vaccine yet exists that is truly effective against adult pulmonary tuberculosis. BCG vaccine (Bacillus Camille Guerin) was introduced in 1921 and is useful in preventing certain types of TB, namely miliary and meningeal tuberculosis occurring in the first year of life. The vaccine is given at or soon after birth, and coverage is the highest of all the EPI vaccines—over 85% globally. Findings have shown that BCG vaccine provides cross-protection against leprosy. Although questions have been raised about the overall efficacy of BCG in protecting against adult forms of TB, there is convincing evidence that it is successful in protecting against serious disease in the first year of life.

In response to the current global TB problem and the shortcomings of the existing BCG vaccine, the WHO/UNAIDS Initiative for Vaccine Research (IVR) (please link to http://www.who.int/vaccines/intermediate/tuberculosis.htm) has established a Global TB Vaccine Forum. Building on previous WHO efforts in defining a global research strategy for TB vaccine R&D and fostering partnerships among the different players in the public and private sectors, IVR will be active in the following areas:

• Defining together with partners a global vaccine research strategy.
• Facilitating and coordinating vaccine development efforts among academia, industry,and regulators on the one hand, and the public health community as representatives of the end-user communities on the other.
• Supporting vaccine development approaches that are neglected by industry.
• Through innovative types of partnerships, adding value to industry efforts in order to speed-up vaccine development and availability.
• Performing an enabling function for conduct of clinical trials in developing countries using adequate ethical standards.

An advisory group representing interested parties such as public and private sector institutions as well as not-for-profit organizations is currently being established by IVR. This group will serve as a focal point for a global TB agenda, providing guidance on challenges and opportunities that need to be addressed by WHO and/or its partners. The group will meet for the first time on 8–9 June 2001. The IVR is proposing the good services of this TB vaccine advisory group to other international entities active in coordinating and advocating research efforts to benefit developing country public health needs, in particular the Stop TB Initiative and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI)
(please link to http://www.vaccinealliance.org/ ).