Vaccine Preparedness

The first promising TB vaccine candidates in over a century are now entering late-stage trials. However, vaccines do not save lives; vaccination does. Understanding the factors that may influence widespread adoption, scaleup, and sustainment of a new TB vaccine into health systems in high TB burden settings, as well as the factors that may drive acceptability, access, and uptake in highly vulnerable populations, is critical to realizing the full potential of TB vaccines for individuals and populations.

Rupali Limaye
Johns Hopkins University

Andrew Kerkhoff
University of California, San Francisco

Mike Frick
Treatment Action Group

Michelle Gill
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation

Activities

SMART4TB will complement the clinical development of new TB vaccines by partnering with countries to prepare for widespread adoption, scale-up, and sustaining a new vaccine within health systems. SMART4TB will:

  • Conduct mixed-methods research in two TB priority countries to assess health facility and systems readiness for TB vaccine delivery and decision-making factors for TB vaccine acceptance and uptake;
  • Create a repository to hold TB vaccine readiness tools, documents, and resources; and
  • Undertake 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 will work at the country level to co-create outputs with stakeholders including relevant ministries, CSOs, NGOs, professional organizations, and other TB vaccine stakeholders.