Dear colleagues, partners and friends,
A century has passed since the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine was introduced to combat tuberculosis (TB) on 18 July, 1921. The BCG vaccine is currently the only licensed vaccine for TB and provides moderate protection against severe forms of TB in infants and young children. It has been made widely available across countries through immunization programmes and has played a vital role in saving many young lives and preventing serious illnesses. However, there is no vaccine that is effective in preventing TB disease in adults, either before or after exposure to TB infection. While results from a Phase II trial of the M72/AS01E TB vaccine candidate are promising - from among 14 vaccine candidates in clinical trials, these vaccines are expected to be ready only in the coming years.
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