Vaccines Global Summit

Vaccines against cancer, malaria, and TB represent the most important weapon globally in the fight against three of the most serious health problems, killing millions every year. The rising prevalence and seriousness of such diseases can only be combated through the vaccine strategy. Cancer vaccines are somewhat different because they can be either preventive or therapeutic. Preventive vaccines will include drugs such as the HPV vaccine that protects against viruses that are apt to cause cancer. Therapeutic vaccines, on the other hand, are designed to treat existing cancers by stimulating the body's immune system to recognize and kill cancer cells. Some of these cancers-cervical, liver, and prostate, for example, are already showing much promise.

Malaria vaccines have been a concern of global health research focus for centuries, especially in endemic areas. Disease and deaths from mosquitoes infected with the Plasmodium parasite are enormous. It is this disease that has caused high rates of illness and death, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite decades of research, the world witnessed the first malaria vaccine, RTS,S, when it was approved for use and shown to help reduce the severity of the disease, thereby promising much for young children. Researches have and are still progressing to make advanced versions of malaria vaccines to maximize the efficiency and coverage of these vaccines.

In TB vaccine research and development, much advancement has been made. TB refers to a condition caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis that is still a common cause of death in several parts of the world. BCG has been administered for decades but does not provide complete immunity in adults. Newer TB vaccines are on the horizon, promising much more stringent immune protection against a disease that is increasingly developing antibiotic resistance, at least in many parts of the world.

These three vaccines under discussion for cancer, malaria, and TB are all critical advances in the treatment of three of the most intractable diseases. Future development in vaccine technology will be key to success in further improving health for the good of all people and, hopefully, cutting deaths to zero.