Launch of Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine in Pakistan

Press Materials

Quotes from global experts about the TCV introduction in Pakistan:

• “The introduction of this new typhoid conjugate vaccine into national immunization programmes will offer long-lasting protection to children who are often the ones suffering a high burden of typhoid. Globally, we must drive down the burden of typhoid, and our expectation is this vaccine will be an important part of that fight, along with improved access to safe water and adequate sanitation and hygiene services."
  Dr. Adwoa Bentsi-Enchill, Medical Officer of the Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals at WHO.
  
  

• “We are proud to have supported the clinical trials showing the safety and efficacy of this vaccine that we hope will have a big impact in stopping the spread of typhoid in children in Pakistan.”
  Dr. Andrew J Pollard, Professor of Pediatric Infection and Immunity at University of Oxford. He oversees TCV effectiveness studies in Bangladesh and Nepal. Oxford also led a human challenge study which was instrumental in moving the vaccine forward for prequalification and approval.
  
  

• "It is appropriate that Pakistan is taking on the challenge of controlling XDR typhoid through vaccination. It was their scientists and clinicians that brought the problem to the attention of the world. It will be vital to bring the emerging threat to heel and vaccination is clearly an excellent option.”
  Dr. Gordon Dougan, Head of Pathogen Research and a member of the Board of Management at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (WTSI) in Cambridge, United Kingdom. He is also an Honorary Professor at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Wolfson College, Cambridge. During his career, Dougan has pioneered work on enteric diseases and been heavily involved in the movement to improve vaccine usage in developing countries.
  
  

• “It is heartening to see the government of Pakistan embracing this new and effective typhoid vaccine to control of typhoid among its children at greatest risk; it must be noted, however, that additional investments in improving living conditions, water safety, sanitation and food safety measures are needed and must be scaled up in parallel.”
  Dr Zulfiqar A. Bhutta is the Robert Harding Inaugural Chair in Global Child Health at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Co-Director of the SickKids Centre for Global Child Health and the Founding Director of the Center of Excellence in Women and Child Health, at the Aga Khan University.
  
  

• “AKU is working with the government to lead the response to end the typhoid outbreak that began in 2016, and we know that introduction of the vaccine into routine immunizations will help end transmission and curb the spread of typhoid. Given the opportunity, I urge parents to get their children vaccinated.”
  Dr. Farah Naz Qamar, Aga Khan University Associate Professor Department of Pediatrics and Child Health. Dr. Qamar and the team at AKU helped support the government typhoid outbreak response, which included a TCV campaign. 
  
  

• “This is an exciting moment in the global fight against typhoid. The fact that we have a typhoid vaccine that can be used for routine childhood immunization is a gamechanger for bringing the disease under control.”
  Dr. Denise Garrett, Vice President of Typhoid Programs and director of the Coalition against Typhoid. Dr. Garrett leads a large surveillance project to help determine the burden of typhoid in Asia
  
  

• “The introduction of TCV in Pakistan is a major milestone for typhoid control in the country, and for the rest of the world. Curbing global transmission of typhoid has never been more urgent as we face increasing drug-resistance and the transmission of typhoid between countries. This introduction is a monumental day for Pakistan, and for the children who will now be protected against typhoid.”
  Dr. Anthony Marfin, Director of Vaccine Introduction & Impact for PATH’s Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access