New WHO Report Urges Bold Financing and Access Strategies for Novel Tuberculosis Vaccines.
Launched at G20 Health Ministers Meeting, report outlines six key actions to ensure equitable vaccine access for adolescents and adults in high-burden countries.
LIMPOPO, South Africa:
A new report released today by the World Health Organization (WHO) calls for urgent and innovative global financing and access strategies to ensure that forthcoming tuberculosis (TB) vaccines reach adolescents and adults in high-burden countries without delay.
The report, titled “Catalysing solutions for equitable global access and sustainable financing for novel tuberculosis vaccines for adults and adolescents,” was launched on the sidelines of the G20 Health Ministers Meeting in Limpopo, South Africa. It provides the first comprehensive analysis of the potential barriers, market dynamics, and financing gaps that could impact the equitable rollout of new TB vaccines.
“New TB vaccines have the potential to save millions of lives faster and change the course of the epidemic,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “By harnessing the power of science, partnership, and finance, we can realize our shared vision to end TB.”
A Global Call for Action
Developed by the TB Vaccine Accelerator Council’s Finance and Access Working Group—co-convened by WHO, the Government of South Africa, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance—the report identifies six priority actions to secure sustainable and equitable global access to future TB vaccines. These include creating catalytic financing mechanisms, supporting regional manufacturing, promoting market transparency, and building country-level evidence to guide adoption and scale-up.
Each year, TB remains the world’s deadliest infectious disease, claiming over 1 million lives and infecting more than 10 million people, mostly in low- and middle-income countries. Alarmingly, 70% of the global TB burden is concentrated in G20 countries and regions.
Vaccine Pipeline Accelerating but Access Challenges Loom
Despite TB’s devastating global toll, no new vaccine has been licensed in over a century. The Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine—introduced in 1921—protects infants and young children from severe forms of TB but offers limited protection for adolescents and adults.
As of September 2025, at least 16 novel TB vaccine candidates are in clinical development, including six in phase III trials—the most promising pipeline in decades. However, WHO warns that vaccine demand will far exceed supply during the early years of rollout.
According to the report, global demand for TB vaccines could exceed 3 billion regimens between 2030 and 2040, with high-burden countries driving most of this demand. Yet, initial supply projections reveal a significant gap after vaccine registration, potentially delaying access and diminishing public health impact.
Estimated procurement costs are between US$ 5–8 billion over the decade 2030–2040—excluding delivery and health system costs. The report also underscores that no dedicated funding currently exists for novel TB vaccines, and both countries and donors will need to make difficult financial choices amid competing health priorities.
Six Solutions to Ensure Equitable Access
To overcome anticipated challenges and ensure timely and equitable rollout, the WHO report outlines six concrete solutions:
- Use catalytic financing and market-shaping instruments such as advance market commitments and volume guarantees to incentivize manufacturers, expand production capacity, and reduce costs.
- Generate early, country-level evidence—including demand forecasts, cost-effectiveness analyses, and budget impact studies—to guide vaccine adoption.
- Clarify domestic and donor financing commitments to identify gaps and mobilize new funding sources.
- Establish a coordination platform for supply and demand stakeholders, supported by shared roadmaps and ongoing dialogue to align timelines for manufacturing, financing, and access.
- Promote market transparency by sharing non-sensitive supply data to support country planning and build trust among partners.
- Advance technology transfer and regional manufacturing in at least one facility per high-burden region to strengthen supply security and regional ownership.
Potential to Save Millions of Lives
WHO modelling shows that if a TB vaccine with 50% efficacy against disease in adolescents and adults were approved and rapidly scaled up, it could avert up to 76 million new TB cases, 8.5 million deaths, and 42 million antibiotic courses over 25 years. Such an intervention could also save households an estimated US$ 42 billion in healthcare and related costs.
Global Leadership and Collaboration Needed
WHO emphasized that the development and implementation of robust financing and access strategies at the country level are essential to preparing for vaccine rollout once new TB vaccines are licensed.
“Achieving equitable access will require collaboration across governments, industry, financiers, and civil society,” the report notes. “It is critical that high-burden countries begin early planning now to ensure they are ready to introduce these life-saving vaccines as soon as they become available.”
The Finance and Access Working Group will continue to drive forward the recommended actions, with WHO reaffirming its commitment to supporting countries and partners in mobilizing resources and coordination.
“Ending TB is within reach,” Dr Tedros concluded. “But it will take bold investments, equitable access strategies, and unwavering political commitment to ensure that when these vaccines arrive, no country or community is left behind.”
