Towards building a tuberculosis free world

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Vaccinology

Background:

• India's ambitious 2025 tuberculosis (TB) elimination target, ahead of the global 2030 Sustainable Development Goal.
• Significant policy advancements and political commitment have driven progress in TB control.
• The COVID-19 pandemic caused setbacks but also highlighted opportunities for public health system reform.

Discussion:

• TB elimination requires multi-stakeholder engagement and community participation.
• Accelerated development of novel diagnostics, therapeutics, and a new TB vaccine is essential.
• The rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines demonstrates the potential for swift vaccine innovation.

Key Insights:

• The absence of an effective TB vaccine remains a significant impediment to global TB eradication efforts.
• Lessons from the COVID-19 vaccine development underscore the feasibility of rapid vaccine creation.
• A novel TB vaccine is a critical component for achieving the 'End TB' strategy.

Outlook:

• Urgent mobilization is needed to advance TB vaccine research and development.
• Successful TB vaccine development will accelerate progress towards a TB-free world.
• Integrating new tools and strategies is vital for overcoming TB.