Global health partners gathered in Blantyre from July 16 to 18, 2025, for the Typhoid Vaccine Acceleration Consortium (TyVAC) conference, hosted at the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme (MLW). The event brought together key representatives from the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), PATH, Gavi, and the TyVAC consortium to review progress and challenges in typhoid vaccine research and implementation.

The TyVAC consortium is a partnership between the University of Maryland School of Medicine, the University of Oxford, and the non-profit PATH. Its goal is to accelerate the introduction of new typhoid conjugate vaccines (TVCs) to reduce the number of typhoid cases in countries supported by Gavi, the vaccine alliance.

During the conference, Malawi was commended for its pivotal role in developing and delivering TVCs. Through MLW-led clinical trials and collaborations with government and global organizations, the country has demonstrated the importance of research in shaping national health policy and improving public health.

Guest of Honour Dr. Joshua Matthias praised the TyVAC consortium and its partners, emphasizing that the typhoid vaccine trial was designed specifically for Malawi’s needs. “Not all research speaks directly to Malawi, but this one did,” he said. Dr. Matthias further noted that such teamwork ensures research findings are translated into real policies and life-saving health solutions.

Globally, typhoid fever causes around 7 million cases and more than 93,000 deaths annually, primarily affecting children and young adults in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. By successfully advancing the introduction of TVCs, Malawi is making a significant contribution to reducing this global burden and strengthening its role in global health.