First-Ever Survey of TB and Immunization Communities on Upcoming TB Vaccines a “Wake-up Call” for Preparedness

Key Takeaways

• A concerning 67% of more than 1,400 respondents in a joint global survey of tuberculosis (TB) and immunization communities say they have heard little or nothing about new TB vaccines that will be available in 2029.
• Safety concerns, side effects, misinformation, stigma, cost concerns, and insufficient information were identified as areas needing immediate attention.
• Successful roll-out will depend on resourced collaboration between tuberculosis and immunization communities, including joint planning, vaccine literacy and early awareness campaigns, education, community demand creation and engagement, and coordinated communication through trusted institutions, governments, and healthcare workers.

WASHINGTON, DC – A first-ever joint survey from the Stop TB Partnership and the Sabin Vaccine Institute highlights the need for robust preparedness before new vaccines become available in 2029 to protect against tuberculosis (TB), the world’s top infectious killer.

Although more than 40% of the 1,424 respondents in the TB and immunization communities had heard about the coming TB vaccines, only one third felt they had some access to clear, reliable information about the vaccines. This lack of information meant they would be unable to address major barriers in their communities. Two-thirds of the respondents identified low community awareness of the vaccines as the biggest barrier to vaccine roll-out, followed by circulating misinformation and cost or affordability. When asked what support they would need to effectively roll out the vaccine, 75% said information about the vaccines, followed closely by training (69%).

“A Wake-up Call”

“This survey is a wake-up call,” says Dr. Lucica Ditiu, Executive Director of Stop TB. “We cannot assume that people will simply welcome a new TB vaccine when it becomes available. Vaccination rates are declining in many places, and hesitancy and mistrust are real and growing challenges. We need to start building trust now, listening to communities and preparing the people who will deliver the vaccine. The time to prepare is before the rollout, not after it. so, WAKE UP!”

Tuberculosis remains the world’s deadliest infectious disease, causing an estimated 1.25 million deaths each year. Infants and children are at particularly high risk, as are people with weakened immune systems. The burden is very high as an estimated 2 billion people are infected with TB and the disease is increasingly resistant to antibiotics.

Survey Responses

The joint survey looked at readiness in Stop TB’s TB communities, international and technical organizations, government programs, research and funding agencies, NGOs, and survivors and among Sabin’s Boost global community of immunization professionals at local and national levels. The survey analyzed 1,424 responses from 86 countries, and about two-thirds of respondents work in high-burden TB countries.

“Reaching people who need this vaccine requires collaboration between tuberculosis and immunization communities, including joint planning, shared advocacy, country-level cooperation, resource mobilization, and continued learning. Program integration at the community level is a must,” says Dr. Rebecca Martin, President of Global Immunization at Sabin. “These survey findings allow global partners, governments, healthcare workers, and community organizations to address the identified needs and lay the groundwork for success.”