URN.Dr Abel Nkolo, the head of the Defeat TB programme in Uganda says a new vaccine is needed because the current vaccine cannot protect people from TB infections.
Tuberculosis experts and researchers are planning to introduce other TB vaccines. The development of new vaccines is one of the priorities that have been set in the recently launched ‘Global Plan to End TB 2023-2030.’
Over the years, billions of children have been protected against Tuberculosis using the Bacillus Calmette–Guérin vaccine. The vaccine has been the only one available to protect against highly infectious diseases for more than 100 years. https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-1885173889378683&output=html&h=345&adk=1590975256&adf=1765694914&pi=t.aa~a.3933768198~i.3~rp.1&w=414&lmt=1657211111&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=9833304535&psa=1&ad_type=text_image&format=414×345&url=https%3A%2F%2Fugandaradionetwork.net%2Fstory%2Fscientists-move-to-manufacture-another-tb-vaccine&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=320&rw=384&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&dt=1657211111443&bpp=3&bdt=7416&idt=-M&shv=r20220630&mjsv=m202206300101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3D775c189f6b7b6e32-2299a1bbc1cd0082%3AT%3D1656659287%3ART%3D1656659287%3AS%3DALNI_MbSTp7T5O6A9q4CTwKpnomM9OPxIg&gpic=UID%3D000008597e823fce%3AT%3D1657195229%3ART%3D1657195229%3AS%3DALNI_MbMCgdwUxf4AtgUZirp93YYHmgf-g&prev_fmts=384×1417%2C414x345%2C414x345%2C414x345%2C0x0&nras=3&correlator=4672653359196&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1162505376.1656659277&ga_sid=1657211110&ga_hid=269736024&ga_fc=1&u_tz=180&u_his=14&u_h=896&u_w=414&u_ah=896&u_aw=414&u_cd=32&u_sd=2&adx=0&ady=1564&biw=414&bih=715&scr_x=0&scr_y=220&eid=44759876%2C44759927%2C44759842%2C31065545%2C31067528%2C44768759%2C42531608&oid=2&pvsid=2174760808800792&tmod=1086467768&nvt=1&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fugandaradionetwork.net%2Fa%2Farchive.php%3FstatusId%3D4&eae=0&fc=384&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C414%2C0%2C414%2C896%2C414%2C829&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&ifi=6&uci=a!6&btvi=4&fsb=1&xpc=74Yj3VRitA&p=https%3A//ugandaradionetwork.net&dtd=10
The vaccine was first administered to a human being in 1921 to protect against TB which was a leading cause of death in the 1900s. The vaccine was developed by two French scientists; Albert Calmette and Camille Guérin.
The jab is administered to children immediately after birth. The World Health Organization estimates that as many as 100 children get the BCG jab every year.
The vaccine is also used to protect against Leprosy and Buruli. It is also used in the treatment of cancer of the bladder.
Dr Abel Nkolo, the head of the Defeat TB programme in Uganda says a new vaccine is needed because the current vaccine cannot protect people from TB infections.
“What is being used now does not stop one from being protected against TB yet for us to put an end to TB we need to reduce the number of new infections to less than 10 per 100,000 people,” he said.
Studies carried out in the United Kingdom show that the efficacy of the current vaccine in preventing infection and disease stands between 20 and 80 percent. As such, people who have been vaccinated against the disease can be infected with it.
The first vaccine is expected to be ready by 2025. At the moment, there are 14 vaccines undergoing clinical trials. The vaccine candidates have different types of vaccines that can prevent infection and TB disease and also others that can improve the treatment outcomes.
The Director of the Global TB Programme at WHO, Dr Tereza Kasaeva says a lot of progress has been made and if work continues at the current pace, the world will have another TB vaccine by 2025.
The new global plan to end TB proposes the allocation of USD 10 billion to support research and development of the vaccines.
Dr Paula Fujiwara, the Chair of the STOP TB Partnership Global Task Force says political will is needed for the vaccine candidates to become a reality. According to her, a lot of sensitization and mobilization needs to be done so that countries with deep pockets can contribute to the manufacture of a vaccine.
WHO figures estimate that annually 10 million people are infected with TB while 1.5 million succumb to it. TB experts say the only way to reduce the number of new infections and deaths is by having a more effective vaccine that can protect against new infections.
