A shot of urgency: Five key pathways to reach more people with critical vaccines
MSF teams in Pakistan, France, South Sudan, Nigeria and Sudan share access and innovation advancements that, if achieved in the years to come, could result in critical vaccines reaching more people around the world.
Vaccines save millions of lives every year. They reduce the risks of getting a disease by working with the body’s natural defences to build protection against vaccine-preventable diseases. Immunization – the process of protecting the human body against infectious disease, typically through vaccination administration – currently prevents 3.5 million to 5 million deaths every year from vaccine-preventable diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), influenza, and measles. Vaccines are also very important in preventing and controlling infectious disease outbreaks.
And yet, although they are one of the most successful and widespread public health tools used to protect against diseases, vaccines are not always affordable, adapted to context, or accessible to everyone who needs them. And in some cases, there are simply no vaccines available yet to protect against certain diseases.
This World Immunization Week and beyond, MSF teams in Pakistan, France, South Sudan, Nigeria, and Sudan share access and innovation advancements that, if achieved in the years to come, could result in critical vaccines reaching more people around the world
A vaccine to protect adolescents and adults against tuberculosis
Tuberculosis continues to kill more than 1 million people each year. That’s why we want to see a safe, effective and affordable vaccine against tuberculosis. Combined with sustained investment in preventive therapies, diagnostics and effective treatment regimens, this vaccine would be a significant step towards reducing global deaths due to tuberculosis. While there is a vaccine (BCG) that helps to protect young children from severe forms of tuberculosis, there is currently no approved vaccine that protects adults and adolescents, either before or after exposure to tuberculosis infection. However, with several vaccine candidates in clinical development showing some promising initial results, there may soon be a viable tuberculosis vaccine everyone can benefit from.
Read the statement from MSF’s international president on novel TB vaccines
Innovations like vaccine microarray patches to overcome barriers in reaching remote areas
Through investing in innovative medical tools like microarray patches (MAPs), we want to reach more people in remote, conflict-affected, and fragile settings with lifesaving vaccinations. MAPs allow vaccines to be administered through the skin without needles or syringes. While studies into MAPs are still ongoing, investing in their implementation is critical because they may be advantageous to normal vaccines in lower-resource settings. They’re easier to transport and more thermostable (they require less refrigeration). They can be administered by community healthcare workers or volunteers after a brief training. All of these elements are critical in remote settings far from routine healthcare and where there are often limited numbers of medical professionals available.
Find out more about our study on the use of MAPs in humanitarian settings
Hepatitis B birth dose vaccine for all newborns
We want to see hepatitis B birth dose vaccine introduced by every country without delay, so that more newborns can be protected from hepatitis B at birth. Each year, over a quarter of a million children acquire chronic hepatitis B at birth, resulting in many premature deaths due to liver cancer or other liver diseases. These deaths could be prevented if hepatitis B birth dose — an affordable vaccine supported since 2024 by the global vaccine alliance known as Gavi — were given to all newborns within the first 24 hours after birth.
Find out more about our earlier call to Gavi to start its hepatitis B birth dose vaccine program
Vaccines to protect against neglected diseases
We want to see increased interest and investment into the research and development of vaccines for neglected diseases, including Lassa fever. Neglected diseases are mainly prevalent among impoverished communities in tropical areas, are estimated to affect more than 1 billion people and frequently cause significant public health issues. However, with neglected diseases rarely or never affecting people living in wealthier countries, there is limited attention and funding into vaccine research and development for these diseases. Safe and effective vaccines, including against Lassa fever, would be an impactful contribution to reducing the burden of neglected diseases in affected areas.
Find out more about how we’re responding to Lassa fever in Nigeria
Timely access to vaccines for all children, no matter where in the world they live
We want to see the rapid and uninterrupted supply and administration of vaccines to children everywhere, and especially those living in areas often underserved by vaccination activities. In 2024, 14.3 million children missed out on receiving any vaccination, half of whom lived in countries affected by conflict, instability or humanitarian crises. Reaching all children with vaccination is critical to preventing disease outbreaks and saving lives.
Find out more about our work on immunization
