Finally, a vaccine to keep tuberculosis (TB) in HIV patients at bay has become a reality.

This vaccine to seven years as took this much time in Africa. This is the first time that such a vaccine has been developed.

The results of clinical trials of this vaccine Mycobacterium vaccae (MV), scientists from Dartmouth Medical School (DMS) have reported it in the January 29 online issue of the journal AIDS. 

Principal investigator Ford von Reyn from DMS said, "Since development of a new vaccine against TB is a major international health priority, especially for patients with HIV infection, we and our Tanzanian collaborators are very encouraged by the results of the study."

Due to such cases in India on a risehHealth ministry said this vaccine is a new hope for many.

About 2,013 HIV outpatients in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, were put to test. They were vaccinated with the traditional TB vaccine (called Bacillus Calmette-Guérin, or BCG) shot as children. For about 3.3 years these participants were followed every three months.

About 33 who received the experimental vaccine got infected with TB in the seven-year, randomized, placebo-controlled trial study as compared with 52 who were given a placebo.

Researchers noticed that the vaccine did not have any serious effects and was well tolerated.