The COVID-19 pandemic clearly demonstrated the dangers of the vaccine gap. Between the emergence of a novel virus and the development and distribution of vaccines, the world suffered enormous losses. Even after vaccines were introduced, the emergence of variants such as Omicron repeatedly undermined their protective efficacy.

Ultimately, preventing infectious diseases requires not only sustaining the achievements of existing vaccines but also supporting broader and more sustained vaccine development to keep pace with the evolving infectious disease landscape.
Since its establishment, RIGHT Foundation has directed the largest share of its funding toward the vaccine sector. With a particular focus on R&D addressing vaccine gaps, the Foundation supports long-term development through linked grant programs, ensuring that vaccines translate into real-world impact in public health settings.

Despite this progress, the fight against malaria is far from over. In 2024, approximately 282 million people were infected with malaria, and 610,000 died—an increase of roughly 9 million infections compared to 2023. The burden remains especially high among low- and middle-income countries and vulnerable populations, with approximately 95% of malaria deaths occurring in Africa and the majority among children under the age of five. In this context, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed concern, stating, “New tools for malaria prevention are giving us new hope, but we still face significant challenges.”

The problem of drug resistance is also intensifying. Partial resistance to artemisinin, the key drug in artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT)—the standard treatment for malaria—has been confirmed or suspected in several African countries, and there are signs that the efficacy of partner drugs used alongside it is also declining. This underscores the urgent need for the development of new treatments.

The burden of TB is concentrated in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with fragile health systems. More than 80% of all TB cases occur in settings where access to diagnostic tools and treatment remains limited, making timely diagnosis and successful treatment difficult. When the critical window for treatment is missed, transmission can accelerate rapidly, leading to wider outbreaks and increased mortality.

TB is also a global concern because it is no longer confined to a small number of countries. OECD countries continue to report approximately 100,000 to 150,000 TB cases each year, and due to airborne nature, the disease has the potential to spread globally.

In addition, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), which does not respond to standard treatment, has become increasingly widespread. According to the WHO, 390,000 people developed MDR-TB in 2024. However access to care remains even more limited, with only 42% of those affected receiving treatment. This is highlight the need to recognized TB not merely as a public health issue affecting certain regions or countries, but as a global health security challenge that requiring coordinated international action.

RSV is very common in infants, and most children are infected at least once within the first two years of life. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 3.6 million children under the age of five are hospitalized each year due to RSV, and around 100,000 die from the infection. About 97% of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries(LMICs), where access to adequate medical care is often limited.