New tuberculosis vaccines expected to become available from 2029 could save up to 7.3 million lives over two decades, according to the global vaccine alliance Gavi.
The organisation said the vaccines could transform the fight against tuberculosis, but warned that their impact would depend on ensuring sufficient, affordable and predictable supplies for countries with the highest disease burden.
Tuberculosis remains the world’s leading infectious killer, with an estimated 1.23 million deaths recorded in 2024, according to the World Health Organisation.
The only currently licensed TB vaccine, Bacille Calmette-Guerin, is more than 100 years old. While it provides protection against severe forms of tuberculosis in infants and young children, its protection decreases over time.
Gavi said several new vaccine candidates are being developed to prevent TB among adolescents and adults. Its analysis found that the vaccines could potentially avert 7.3 million deaths between 2030 and 2050 and generate as much as $135bn in economic benefits across low- and middle-income countries.
However, the organisation warned that inadequate global and domestic funding could delay vaccine rollout once the products receive regulatory approval.
It also said uncertainty over future demand could discourage manufacturers from making the investments needed to build adequate production capacity, creating potential supply shortages.
Gavi said it was already working with partners to prepare for the introduction of the vaccines, including efforts to secure affordable supplies and promote wider use through routine immunisation programmes.
The alliance also plans to support a competitive and geographically diverse pipeline of new TB vaccine candidates so countries can access sufficient doses once the vaccines become available.
