Typhoid Vaccines: Oxford study found Indian vaccine is safe and effective
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Scientists at Oxford university have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of a new typhoid vaccine, manufactured by the Hyderabad-based firm Bharat Biotech after nearly 8 years of research. AP file photo
Scientists at Oxford University have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of a new typhoid vaccine, manufactured by the Hyderabad-based firm Bharat Biotech after nearly 8 years of research.
This is the first clinical trial result to show that the Indian vaccine (Typbar TCV) is safe, well-tolerated and can give protection against the infection. The vaccine has an efficacy of nearly 54% in a specially designed clinical trial conducted on 112 healthy volunteers.
The results – published last week in the journal Lancet – also suggest that in a real-life scenario, the shot would be having 87% efficacy for infants, older children and adults.
Found in areas where people lack access to clean water and basic sanitation, typhoid continues to be a significant disease burden for India, affecting mostly kids between two and four years of age.
Globally the World Health Organisation estimates there are approximately 21 million cases and 222,000 typhoid-related deaths every year.
“Findings from our study support the use of vaccines (a particular type) as they are efficacious and safe and will assist with controlling typhoid fever in high-burden settings,” the Oxford Vaccine Group reported.
The trial results come days ahead of a crucial WHO meeting in which the UN health outfit is to take a policy decision on the use of typhoid vaccines.
Currently, available typhoid vaccines can't be administered to children below 2 years, and do not confer long-term immunity.
The new vaccine, on the contrary, can be administered to kids below that age and confers long-term immunity, doing away with the need for repeat shots.
With the large-scale emergence of drug-resistance in Asia and Africa, the fatality from typhoid could be as high as 30%.
“Multidrug-resistant Salmonella typhi has become a major public health problem, as more people are prescribed antibiotics for even common fever in developing nations. Our vaccine can help reduce the disease burden faced by millions of families,” said Krishna Ella, chairman and managing director of Bharat Biotech.
"The results are timely and engender optimism that an effective new instrument has become available to help control typhoid in hyper-endemic populations," commented Nicholas A Feasey from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine UK, and Myron M Levine from the University of Maryland USA in an accompanying article in the journal.
This is the first clinical trial result to show that the Indian vaccine (Typbar TCV) is safe, well-tolerated and can give protection against the infection. The vaccine has an efficacy of nearly 54% in a specially designed clinical trial conducted on 112 healthy volunteers.
The results – published last week in the journal Lancet – also suggest that in a real-life scenario, the shot would be having 87% efficacy for infants, older children and adults.
Found in areas where people lack access to clean water and basic sanitation, typhoid continues to be a significant disease burden for India, affecting mostly kids between two and four years of age.
Globally the World Health Organisation estimates there are approximately 21 million cases and 222,000 typhoid-related deaths every year.
“Findings from our study support the use of vaccines (a particular type) as they are efficacious and safe and will assist with controlling typhoid fever in high-burden settings,” the Oxford Vaccine Group reported.
The trial results come days ahead of a crucial WHO meeting in which the UN health outfit is to take a policy decision on the use of typhoid vaccines.
Currently, available typhoid vaccines can't be administered to children below 2 years, and do not confer long-term immunity.
The new vaccine, on the contrary, can be administered to kids below that age and confers long-term immunity, doing away with the need for repeat shots.
With the large-scale emergence of drug-resistance in Asia and Africa, the fatality from typhoid could be as high as 30%.
“Multidrug-resistant Salmonella typhi has become a major public health problem, as more people are prescribed antibiotics for even common fever in developing nations. Our vaccine can help reduce the disease burden faced by millions of families,” said Krishna Ella, chairman and managing director of Bharat Biotech.
"The results are timely and engender optimism that an effective new instrument has become available to help control typhoid in hyper-endemic populations," commented Nicholas A Feasey from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine UK, and Myron M Levine from the University of Maryland USA in an accompanying article in the journal.