DAILY RENDEZVOUS

DAILY RENDEZVOUS The adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tuberculosis (TB) services has brought the urgency of vaccine development efforts into sharp focus. Speaking today at a high-level panel on TB at the World Economic Forum, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, announced plans to establish a new TB Vaccine Accelerator Council. The Council will facilitate the licensing and use of effective novel TB vaccines catalysing high-level alignment between funders, global agencies, governments and end users in identifying and overcoming barriers to TB vaccine development. “One of the most important lessons from the response to the COVID-19 pandemic is that innovative health interventions can be delivered fast if they are prioritized politically and financed adequately”, said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “The challenges presented by TB and COVID-19 are different, but the ingredients that accelerate science, research and innovati...

Daily Rendezvous Excellencies, Honourable Ministers, Regional Directors, distinguished delegates, dear colleagues and friends, On World Tuberculosis Day, we pay tribute to the millions who lose their lives to TB, and the millions who continue to struggle daily against this preventable and curable disease. We salute those health workers who give so much in their efforts to stop the spread of this disease, and to save the lives of those affected by it. Tuberculosis kills more than 1.5 million people each year and affects millions more, with enormous impacts on families and communities. Ending this debilitating disease remains a priority for WHO, and in recent years, we have made encouraging progress globally. More than 66 million people received access to TB services since the year 2000. This year, World Tuberculosis Day puts the spotlight on the urgent need to invest in the fight against TB to achieve the commitments made by global leaders.  This is especially critical i...