WHO Identifies 17 Priority Pathogens for the Development of New Vaccines
With this initiative, the WHO hopes not only to accelerate the development of essential vaccines but also to ensure that global health needs are effectively and equitably addressed. Nov 5, 2024 Photo: VTV Canal 8
November 5, 2024 Hour: 9:33 pm
The WHO aims to shift the traditional focus of vaccine production, which is often driven by commercial performance, towards one that is more centered on public health needs, especially in vulnerable regions.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a study listing 17 pathogens that represent a critical priority for the development of new vaccines, in an effort to address diseases affecting communities worldwide. This is the first systematic attempt at a global level to classify endemic pathogens, taking into account factors such as regional disease burden and specific health needs.
Among the priority diseases are hepatitis A, dengue, influenza, tuberculosis, as well as various types of pneumonia, salmonella infections, and E. coli. The WHO aims to shift the traditional focus of vaccine production, which is often driven by commercial performance, towards one that is more centered on public health needs, especially in vulnerable regions.
Mateusz Hasso-Agopsowicz, a WHO specialist, noted that vaccine research and development are often determined by profit potential, leading to insufficient attention to diseases that severely affect low-income countries. “It is crucial that we redirect our efforts towards those diseases that cause a high number of deaths in these communities,” he stated.
The creation of this list was conducted through extensive consultation with experts in epidemiology, vaccination, and medicine. Among the pathogens identified as priorities are those responsible for diseases such as malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis, which collectively cause approximately 2.5 million deaths annually.
Additionally, the importance of group A streptococci was highlighted, as they are behind severe infections and are responsible for around 280,000 annual deaths due to rheumatic heart disease, a condition that can cause permanent damage to heart valves, especially in resource-limited countries.
Another pathogen that has emerged as a priority is the Klebsiella bacteria, linked to approximately 790,000 deaths in 2019 and responsible for 40% of deaths in newborns suffering from sepsis.
With this initiative, the WHO hopes not only to accelerate the development of essential vaccines but also to ensure that global health needs are effectively and equitably addressed.
Autor: MLM
Fuente: EFE - VTV Canal8
