Subtitle Forum: Is There a Vaccine for TB?
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. It affects the lungs, but can spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream. TB is a major global health burden, with an estimated 1.5 million deaths in 2018.
Vaccine – A vaccine is a biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular disease. A vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe, its toxins, or one of its surface proteins. The agent stimulates the body's immune system to recognize the agent as a threat, destroy it, and "remember" it, so that the immune system can more easily recognize and destroy any of these microorganisms that it later encounters.
Currently, there is no vaccine available for TB. However, a vaccine called Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is used in some countries to protect infants against the most serious forms of TB. BCG is not a perfect vaccine, and its efficacy varies depending on the population it is used in and the strain of TB it is used against. Additionally, its use is not recommended in countries with a high prevalence of TB, as it can interfere with the diagnosis of active TB.
To address the need for a more effective TB vaccine, researchers are actively working on developing new vaccines that are more effective, safer, and easier to use. The World Health Organization (WHO) has established a list of criteria for a new TB vaccine, including safety, efficacy, and cost. In the past decade, several promising candidates have been developed, but none have been approved for use in humans yet.
Research is also ongoing into other approaches to TB prevention, such as new diagnostic tests, better treatment options, and improved public health measures. Ultimately, the development of a safe and effective TB vaccine is a priority for the global health community.
