Global stakeholders, including health organisations, researchers and advocates have called for heightened political will to hasten the development and implementation of alternative vaccines against Tuberculosis (TB).
In a post-United Nations High-Level Meeting (UNHLM) national stakeholders’ consultation organised by the Stop TB Partnership Nigeria in Abuja, the deputy chair of Global Stop TB Partnership, Mr. Austin Obiefuna highlighted the persistent challenge of TB as a major global health concern, resulting in millions of affected individuals and hundreds of thousands of annual deaths.
While acknowledging advancements in diagnosis and treatment, Obiefuna pointed out the limited effectiveness of the current vaccine, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), which has been in use for almost a century and is only partially effective in preventing severe forms of TB in children.
Addressing this issue, Obiefuna stressed the imperative of increased political will to prioritise the development of alternative vaccines. The stakeholders argue that bridging this gap is crucial for making significant progress in effectively combating the disease.
