The situation is worsened by a vaccine whose level of protection against the disease has been found wanting.

Experts say that there is growing need for a new vaccine in the world to bolster the BCG vaccine that is presently administered upon birth.

Protection

Dr Lawrence Okong’o, who is involved in the preparations for vaccine trials at KEMRI/CDC, says that the BCG vaccine confers only 70 per cent protection to those vaccinated, usually against severe forms of the disease.

Mr Nyamthimba says that the BCG vaccine that has been in use for close to a century now, gradually weakens as the child grows up.

He adds that by the time a child celebrates the twelfth birthday, the vaccine’s efficiency is very low.

“There is need for a vaccine that takes infants up to adulthood,” he explains.

Safety

Dr Okong’o says that a vaccine candidate, Aereas 402, has been identified and would be taken through phase two trials to test for safety in humans.

The trials will also be seeking to find out whether the vaccine confers immunity to the vaccinated infants. Similar trials are planned for South Africa, Uganda and Mozambique.

Similar investigations are on going amongst infants at the Siaya District Hospital.

“We will build on this work on adolescents and infants to carry out trials. The information will contribute towards the development of the vaccine for better protection against the TB,” says Dr Okong’o.

Ethics

The 2900 infants in the study were enrolled soon after birth where village-based health workers administer the BCG vaccine and follow them up, with regular tests at Siaya District Hospital.

Dr Okong’o says that the trials could be rolled out by May next year. Presently, they are working on preliminary requirements that include seeking the approval by the Kemri Ethics Review Committee.