Typhoid Vaccine Acceleration Consortium (TyVAC)

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.

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.