PROFOH WELCOMES THE TB AND EPI PARTNERSHIP
May 7, 2026. Geneva. – PROFOH is a ranking member of WHO Stop TB Partnership based in Switzerland and senior stakeholder in TB eradication projects in Africa, currently we are implementing one such project in Rivers State Nigeria. The Stop TB Partnership and Sabin Vaccine Institute have entered into a groundbreaking new partnership bringing together TB and Essential Program on Immunization (EPI) communities within countries to support readiness when the new tuberculosis (TB) vaccines are introduced.
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 would benefit from a vaccine protecting from the progression of infection to disease. The WHO’s End TB Strategy aims for a 80% reduction in TB incidence rate by 2030, but current tools are insufficient to meet this goal.
The partnership comes at a crucial time, as countries look ahead to new vaccine candidates that could better protect adolescents and adults, who account for the majority of TB transmission, and offer stronger protection against drug-resistant TB. There are multiple TB vaccines currently in development, including six listed by the WHO and the New Vaccines Working Group of Stop TB Partnership as in Phase III trials. This signals a significant need for early preparation and collaboration among policy makers, community leaders, public health workers, and other key stakeholders as countries look ahead toward potential changes. The two organizations are uniquely prepared to reach relevant stakeholders with the information they need, and together, their complementarity will foster connection and peer-to-peer learning across communities affected by TB.
Sabin’s Boost Community connects over 5,700 immunization professionals at all levels from nearly 160 countries. Their roles span academia, ministries of health, nonprofits, and industry. These members are situated perfectly to connect local knowledge and solutions with action and follow-through, making them invaluable partners in preparing health systems for vaccine introductions. Together, the organizations plan to connect the immunization and TB communities, to facilitate the generation of actionable evidence, and to build the relationships and shared knowledge needed for an effective preparation and roll-out by countries.
Through this collaboration between the Stop TB Partnership and Sabin Vaccine Institute’s Boost Community of immunization professionals, we are launching a survey with both the TB and immunization communities with the aim of collating perspectives across both stakeholder groups needing to work hand-in-hand to prepare for a successful TB vaccine introduction.
As new TB vaccine candidates continue to advance, it is critical to understand how prepared our community is, from awareness and perceptions to implementation challenges and opportunities. Your input will directly inform how we shape future guidance, resources, and engagement efforts across the TB and immunization landscape.
Dr. Gbemuotor Kama
Executive Director
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