Tuberculosis vaccines in the era of Covid-19 - what is taking us so long?

Authors :: Dockrell HM
McShane H
Source :: EBioMedicine [EBioMedicine] 2022 May; Vol. 79, pp. 103993. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Apr 12.
Publication Year :: 2022
Abstract: The Mycobacterium bovis BCG vaccine was first used in 1921, but has not controlled the global spread of tuberculosis (TB). There are still no new licensed tuberculosis vaccines, although there much active research and a vaccine development pipeline, with vaccines designed to prevent infection, prevent disease, or accelerate TB treatment. These vaccines are of different types, and designed to replace BCG, or to boost immunity following BCG vaccination. This viewpoint discusses why, when it has been possible to develop new vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 so quickly, it is taking so long to develop new tuberculosis vaccines.<br />Competing Interests: Declaration of interests HMD and HMcS both report no conflicts of interest.<br /> (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)