A technical summit hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva brought together global health leaders, researchers, funders and advocates to review progress in accelerating the development and access to new tuberculosis (TB) vaccines for adults and adolescents. The forum highlighted ongoing work under the TB Vaccine Accelerator initiative and emphasised the urgent need for effective vaccines, as TB continues to be the world’s leading infectious killer, causing over 10 million illnesses and more than 1 million deaths annually.
Participants noted that several promising TB vaccine candidates are currently in clinical trials, with some expected to deliver efficacy results within the next two years. For the first time in over a century, there is optimism that new vaccines could significantly reduce TB-related illness and deaths while easing the burden on health systems and households. The meeting also marked the first joint session of the Accelerator’s working groups, aiming to align stakeholders, strengthen collaboration and address remaining gaps from research through to vaccine rollout.
Efforts to prepare countries for the introduction of new TB vaccines were a key focus, including the launch of an online platform to support knowledge-sharing, decision-making and community engagement. This builds on earlier consultations in high-burden countries and ongoing initiatives to ensure readiness for timely and equitable vaccine deployment once approved.
Discussions also covered the status of leading vaccine candidates and the steps needed to move from clinical trials to policy recommendations and national implementation. Experts examined scientific, regulatory and operational challenges, alongside the importance of generating evidence to guide global and country-level decisions on vaccine adoption.
Ensuring equitable access and sustainable financing was another major priority. Building on earlier WHO work, stakeholders are advancing solutions such as innovative financing mechanisms, market-shaping strategies, and improved economic data to support demand and investment decisions, alongside efforts to expand regional vaccine manufacturing capacity.
