-Typbar TCV, the world’s first typhoid vaccine clinically proven for use on recipients who can be as young as six months, on January 3, 2017, was given World Health Organization’s prequalification nod.
-This prequalification will allow health and humanitarian organisations such as UNICEF, GAVI etc. to procure it for public health vaccination programmes across the world.
-Typbar TCV is developed by Bharat Biotech. It’s retail price in India is Rs 1,500.
– A single dose of Typbar TCV offers 87% protective efficacy against typhoid.
-This vaccine is approved for use in India, yet it is not made part of India’s Universal Immunisation Programme.
About Typhoid fever
-Typhoid fever is a systemic infection caused by Salmonella Typhi, (S. Typhi) usually through ingestion of contaminated food or water. .
-According to a report, typhoid has sickened 12 million people and killed 130,000 worldwide in 2016.
-WHO recommends the use of typhoid conjugate vaccines for use on children between the ages of 6 months and 23 months, and catch-up vaccinations for children between the ages of 2 years and 15 years.
-Two typhoid vaccines are currently recommended by WHo for use by:
- an injectable polysaccharide vaccine based on the purified Vi antigen (known as Vi-PS vaccine) for persons aged two years and above;
- and a live attenuated oral Ty21a vaccine in capsule formulation for those over five years of age.
