Urgent vaccines needed for hepatitis C, HIV, 15 more pathogens: WHO

The World Health Organisation has identified 17 pathogens as top priorities for vaccine development. The findings in a study, published in eBioMedicine, specify how important vaccine research and development are for three diseases – malaria, HIV and tuberculosis – that claim 2.5 million lives every year.

Pathogens like Group A streptococcus and Klebsiella pneumonia have also been highlighted as they are becoming increasingly resistant to antimicrobials. Thus, urgently requiring vaccines.

PATHOGENS IDENTIFIED IN THE WHO STUDY

The pathogens on WHO’s list fall into three main categories based on the stage of vaccine development:

Pathogens with vaccines needed for development:

Pathogens with vaccines that need further development:

Pathogens with vaccines nearing regulatory approval:

Dr Kate O’Brien, WHO’s Director of the Immunisation, Vaccines, and Biologicals Department, said that global vaccine decisions are often influenced by potential returns on investment rather than the needs of high-burden communities.

“This study uses regional data and expertise to target vaccines that can significantly reduce diseases impacting communities today and lessen healthcare costs,” she noted.

WHO collaborated with international and regional experts to assess factors for vaccine development, such as regional disease burden, antimicrobial resistance risk, and socioeconomic impact.

The experts’ insights, combined with data for each pathogen, helped identify the top 10 priorities in each WHO region, which were then consolidated into a global list of 17 priority pathogens.

With emerging threats like Covid-19, the WHO stated that the report can enhance academic research, funding, and policy decisions to make vaccines effective and accessible globally.