The World Health Organisation has prequalified Zydus Lifesciences Limited's indigenously produced Typhoid Vi Conjugate Vaccine, ZyVac TCV, today. This prequalification makes ZyVac TCV eligible for purchase by United Nations (UN) procurement agencies, which is a significant step forward in global typhoid-fever immunization efforts.

The Zydus Biotech Park in Ahmedabad developed ZyVac TCV, a recommended active immunisation against Salmonella typhi infection in people aged six months to 65 years. With this WHO prequalification, ZyVac TCV joins the global effort to prevent typhoid fever, particularly in areas where the disease is most prevalent, such as India, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Annually, UN agencies purchase about 150 million doses of typhoid vaccine to protect populations in these susceptible areas.

In a media statement, Zydus Lifesciences emphasized the significance of the development, saying, "The WHO prequalification of ZyVac TCV underscores our dedication to producing life-saving vaccines that address global health needs." With this designation, ZyVac TCV will now play an important role in the global fight against typhoid fever, particularly in areas with the highest disease burden.

Typhoid fever, a systemic febrile illness caused by eating Salmonella enterica and serovar typhi from contaminated food and water, is still a serious public health concern. According to GAVI (2022), typhoid fever causes 11 to 21 million illnesses per year and 117,000 to 161,000 deaths. India alone accounts for 75% of the incidence and mortality in South Asia.

According to the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation (SAGE), children under the age of five account for 27% of all typhoid cases. Experts project that the launch of ZyVac TCV will significantly reduce the typhoid burden among vulnerable groups, particularly young children in high-risk regions.

With this certification, Zydus intends to broaden the reach of its vaccines through worldwide procurement programs, thereby contributing to global immunization policies that prioritize disease prevention in marginalized regions.