KARACHI: GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, has reaffirmed its readiness to support the rollout of a new tuberculosis (TB) vaccine once it becomes available, according to Dr. Sania Nishtar, Chief Executive Officer of Gavi.
In a statement shared on her verified Facebook page, Dr. Nishtar — who previously served as a clinician and health minister in Pakistan — highlighted her personal and professional experience with the devastating impact of tuberculosis. She noted that as Gavi CEO, she was “delighted that we are on the cusp of making a tuberculosis vaccine a reality,” and conveyed Gavi’s commitment during the G20 Health Ministers Meeting in Limpopo, South Africa.
“I was proud to tell the G20 Health Ministers Meeting in Limpopo that we at Gavi are ready. We will do what we have done for the last 25 years — turn groundbreaking financial innovation into public health outcomes at scale,” Dr. Nishtar stated.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tuberculosis remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, killing 1.3 million people annually. Despite global progress, no new TB vaccine has been licensed in more than a century since the BCG vaccine’s introduction.
Recent reports from WHO and Gavi confirm that advanced TB vaccine candidates are in late-stage development, with potential licensure projected within the coming years. Gavi’s 2026-2030 strategy identifies TB as a priority for future vaccine investment and equitable distribution once a vaccine gains regulatory approval.
Pakistan ranks among the top five countries with the highest TB burden globally. The introduction of a new vaccine could significantly strengthen national prevention efforts and reduce transmission, particularly among vulnerable populations.
Dr. Nishtar’s remarks underscore Gavi’s strategic role in ensuring that once the vaccine is approved, low- and middle-income countries like Pakistan will be among the first to benefit through coordinated global immunization programs.
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