WHO Prioritizes 17 Pathogens for Urgent Vaccine Development

The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified 17 pathogens that cause significant diseases globally as top priorities for new vaccine development, as reported in a recent study in eBioMedicine. These include HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, which collectively account for millions of deaths each year, as well as antimicrobial-resistant threats like Group A streptococcus and Klebsiella pneumoniae. This prioritization aims to guide equitable vaccine R&D to tackle diseases that heavily impact health systems and vulnerable communities.

Using global and regional data, WHO collaborated with experts to rank pathogens based on disease burden, resistance potential, and socioeconomic effects. This list is part of WHO's broader goal to strengthen immunization, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, aligning with the Immunization Agenda 2030 to ensure accessible vaccines worldwide. This study also complements WHO’s R&D efforts for epidemic preparedness by addressing endemic pathogens that pose ongoing public health challenges.