South Africa hopeful of possible TB vaccine breakthrough
The Department of Health says preparations are underway to ensure South Africans can access a new tuberculosis vaccine as soon as possible, should ongoing clinical trials prove successful.
The department says the development of the M27 vaccine could mark a major turning point in the fight against TB, particularly by protecting adolescents and adults who remain vulnerable to the disease.
Departmental spokesperson Foster Mohale says the government is already taking proactive steps to prepare for the vaccine’s possible registration and introduction, as part of efforts to eliminate TB as a public health threat by 2030.
Mohale revealed that the M27 vaccine has shown promising results in phase one and phase two trials and is currently being tested in phase three clinical trials in South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Malawi and Indonesia.
He says if the vaccine is approved and registered by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), it would become the first new TB vaccine introduced in more than a century.
“A vaccine that prevents TB disease in adolescents and adults will be a game changer for TB control and elimination both globally and here in South Africa,” Mohale said.
The department said early preparation is aimed at ensuring there are no delays in making the vaccine available to communities if the clinical trials confirm its safety and effectiveness.
Mohale says global partners, including the Gates Medical Research Institute and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, have confirmed an agreement with the Serum Institute of India for the production and supply of vaccine doses worldwide.
He said the agreement also creates opportunities for pharmaceutical partnerships in South Africa and Indonesia over time, which could strengthen local manufacturing capacity and contribute to economic growth.
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