Vaccine Preparedness

To meet global targets to end tuberculosis, the world needs new and effective TB vaccines. Fortunately, several promising adult and adolescent TB vaccine candidates are in late-stage clinical trials. But vaccines can only save lives and prevent transmission if they are widely used, making preparation for the rollout of a TB vaccine program critical for adults and adolescents in affected countries.

SMART4TB will complement the clinical development of new TB vaccines through a multi-pronged effort: synthesizing lessons from past adult and adolescent vaccine rollouts, partnering with countries and affected communities to gather data and help support readiness challenges, and leading global advocacy and coordination efforts, including the development of a TB vaccine preparedness repository and co-convening TB Vax Arm, a global coalition of civil society and community partners advocating for new TB vaccines.

Learn more in this overview of SMART4TB’s vaccine preparedness work.

Rupali Limaye
Johns Hopkins University

Andrew Kerkhoff
University of California, San Francisco

Mike Frick
Treatment Action Group

Michelle Gill
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation

Joeri Buis

Joeri S Buis
KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation

Activities

SMART4TB is complementing the clinical development of new TB vaccines by partnering with countries, currently Kenya and South Africa, to prepare for widespread adoption, scale-up, and sustaining a new vaccine within health systems. SMART4TB is:

  • Conducting mixed-methods research in TB priority countries to assess health facility and systems readiness for TB vaccine delivery and decision-making factors for TB vaccine acceptance and uptake;
  • Creating a repository to hold completed, ongoing, and planned TB vaccine readiness projects; and
  • Undertaking advocacy activities around TB vaccine access policy and vaccine R&D.
Partners & Collaborations

Stakeholder engagement is a critical element throughout SMART4TB’s vaccine preparedness work. The expertise and collaboration of global policymakers, researchers, and funders including the World Health Organization, Wellcome Trust, the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute, the Collaboration for TB Vaccine Discovery, Médecins Sans Frontières, the International Vaccine Institute, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and MM Global Health Consulting, has been influential in SMART4TB’s approach.

SMART4TB is working at the country level to co-create outputs with stakeholders including relevant ministries, CSOs, NGOs, professional organizations, and other TB vaccine stakeholders.