TB-vaccines: Current status & challenges

Tuberculosis continues to be among the leading causes of morbidity as well as mortality. It is appreciated that our aim of eliminating TB in the foreseeable future will not be realized until we have a new vaccine with significant efficacy among diverse populations and all age-groups. Although impressive strides have been made in more refined development of new TB vaccines based on learnings from past experiences, the substitute or a booster vaccine for the BCG vaccine is not available yet. This article puts in perspective the recent efforts in re-positioning BCG, development of newer vaccines based on novel approaches, the current TB vaccine pipeline, yet unmet challenges in vaccine development, exploring newer ideas in vaccine development and what the future holds.