The list includes HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, which cause about 2.5 million deaths annually, as well as pathogens like Klebsiella pneumoniae and group A streptococcus, which are becoming increasingly resistant to treatments and pose a growing risk to health.
The list complements a plan that already includes vaccines against coronavirus and SARS | Photo: UFU/Milton Santos
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a list of 17 disease-causing agents that urgently need vaccines. The study, published in the journal eBioMedicine, is the first from the WHO to assess these pathogens in various parts of the world, considering factors such as the severity of diseases, the risk of resistance to medications, and their economic impact.
Among the listed agents are diseases like HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, which account for approximately 2.5 million deaths annually, as well as pathogens like Klebsiella pneumoniae and group A Streptococcus, which are increasingly resistant to conventional treatments and pose a growing health risk.
Kate O'Brien, director of the WHO's Immunization Department, noted that in many situations, vaccine development has prioritized financial return rather than focusing on the number of lives that could be saved in vulnerable communities. “This study uses extensive experience and regional data to evaluate vaccines that would not only significantly reduce diseases that greatly impact communities today but also lower the medical costs faced by families and healthcare systems,” she states.
The study involved experts from various regions who contributed to identifying the key factors for determining which vaccines should be prioritized. These regional analyses were compiled into a global list of pathogens—disease-causing organisms—to guide research and vaccine production against diseases that most threaten public health.
This work complements the WHO's pandemic response plan, which already includes pathogens with pandemic potential, such as the coronavirus and SARS. Now, the study expands the focus to endemic and chronic diseases that affect many regions and significantly impact health and the economy.
The list also reinforces the WHO's Immunization Agenda 2030, which aims to ensure universal access to vaccines, regardless of location. The goal is to provide guidance to governments, scientists, and industries on the best areas to invest in research and development of vaccines with the highest potential benefit for communities.
Classification of Priority Endemic Pathogens
The WHO has divided the pathogens into three categories based on the current stage of vaccine development:
Pathogens requiring more research for vaccines:
- Group A Streptococcus
- Hepatitis C
- HIV-1
- Klebsiella pneumoniae
Pathogens for which vaccine development needs to be intensified:
- Cytomegalovirus
- Influenza (for a vaccine that protects against multiple strains)
- Leishmania species
- Non-typhoidal Salmonella
- Norovirus
- Plasmodium falciparum (which causes malaria)
- Shigella species
- Staphylococcus aureus
Pathogens with vaccines in the final stages of approval or distribution:
- Dengue virus
- Group B Streptococcus
- Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis (tuberculosis)
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
The list also directs attention to low- and middle-income countries, where the need for new vaccines is even more urgent due to limited resources and the high occurrence of these diseases. Thus, the WHO seeks to support governments and experts from different fields to focus efforts on vaccines that can have the most positive impact.