Old_Typhoid Vaccine Acceleration Consortium (TyVAC)
The Typhoid Vaccine Acceleration Consortium (TyVAC), a partnership between the Center for Vaccine Development at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, the Oxford Vaccine Group at the University of Oxford, and PATH, an international nonprofit, aims to accelerate the introduction of new typhoid conjugate vaccines (TCVs) as part of an integrated approach to reducing the burden of morbidity and mortality from typhoid in countries eligible for support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi).
Together we can #TakeOnTyphoid.
Why Typhoid?
Typhoid, a serious enteric fever caused by Salmonella typhi, is spread through contaminated food and water. While largely eliminated in industrialized countries, typhoid continues to be a substantial public health issue that disproportionately impacts children and marginalized populations in much of Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of Latin America and the Middle East.
The burden of typhoid is likely underestimated due to difficulties in surveillance and diagnostic challenges, but current estimates indicate that each year there are nearly 12 million cases and more than 128,000 deaths, with young children and adolescents aged 2 to 15 years disproportionately impacted. Though treatable with antibiotics, the rate of cases resistant to the available antibiotics is increasing. Vaccination, along with improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene, are key components to an integrated strategy to prevent typhoid.
The two typhoid vaccines currently licensed are underutilized in high-burden countries despite typhoid’s detrimental impact and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation for their use. New TCVs have the potential to overcome many of the challenges that have impeded uptake of earlier vaccines, including longer-lasting protection and suitability for children under two years of age, allowing for inclusion in routine immunization programs.
TyVAC's Approach
As part of an integrated typhoid prevention and control approach, TyVAC works closely with local and global partners to accelerate the introduction of TCVs in low-income countries and to facilitate access to typhoid vaccines in the most at-risk and marginalized communities.
The TyVAC approach is multidisciplinary: at the global level, we work closely with WHO, Gavi, and other stakeholders to ensure there are sufficient data and evidence to inform global guidelines, financing decisions, and a sustainable vaccine supply. Similarly, TyVAC works with local partners to support program preparation and ensure evidence based policy decisions.
TyVAC assesses existing data and generates new evidence related to typhoid disease burden, antimicrobial resistance, cost-effectiveness, health impact analyses, and regional data on TCVs. We conduct country level analyses to understand cost and economic value of vaccines and inform decision makers at national level.
TyVAC is committed to ensuring that prevention and control of typhoid is a global health priority. Working with partners to take an integrated approach that includes improved water, sanitation, and hygiene, we can mitigate the substantial and detrimental impact of typhoid.
1st Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine Achieves WHO Prequalification
The first typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV) has received prequalification from the World Health Organization (WHO), bringing the vaccine one step closer to reaching millions more people at risk of typhoid.
The Take on Typhoid team is excited about this news because prequalification signifies that the vaccine meets international standards for safety, efficacy, and quality, and allows the vaccine to be purchased by WHO, UNICEF, other UN agencies, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance for use in low- and middle-income countries. It is a critical step toward expanding access to this vaccine to the countries that need it most.
We have developed a social media toolkit with sample tweets, Facebook posts, and snackables for partners to use and a factsheet on Typbar-TCV® Prequalification: Questions and Answers.
Additional resources include:
- Bharat Biotech press release
- WHO press release
- TyVAC press release
- Celebrating Prequalification—A Major Milestone in Typhoid Prevention Efforts
Gavi Supports the Introduction of Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine
Millions of Children Set to be Protected Against Typhoid Fever
Vaccine Alliance Backs Typhoid Shots for Poor with $85 Million
A New Vaccine Against Typhoid Fever Will Also Help Fight Antimicrobial Resistance
It's time to #TakeOnTyphoid!
— Gavi (@gavi) November 30, 2017
Millions of children are set to be protected against this deadly disease - with the help of new @Gavi support
https://t.co/ZeuKdP5w3E #VaccinesWork #StopSuperBugs @PreventTyphoid pic.twitter.com/IJz91VoqBT
Typhoid Human Challenge Model
Click the link for news stories on the typhoid human challenge model
Quick Links
- Typhoid Vaccine Set to Have 'Huge Impact'
- Summary Report for the SAGE Meeting of October 2017
- Efficacy and Immunogenicity of a Vi-tetanus Toxoid Conjugate Vaccine in the Prevention of Typhoid Fever Using a Controlled Human Infection Model of Salmonella Typhi: A Randomised Controlled, Phase 2b Trial
- Typhoid Vaccine Development with a Human Challenge Model
- How to Talk About Typhoid: Menu of Messages (English)
- How to Talk About Typhoid: Menu of Messages (French)
- Fact Sheet: Accelerating Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine Introduction (English)
- Fact Sheet: Accelerating Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine Introduction (French)
Contact Us
- Phone: 410-706-3987
- Email: TyVAC@som.umaryland.edu