In January 2023, WHO’s Director-General announced plans to establish a TB vaccine accelerator Council to facilitate the development, testing, authorization, and use of new TB vaccines, drawing on lessons learned from the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The establishment meeting of the Council took place on 20 September 2023, on the occasion of the 78^th session of the United Nations General Assembly, in the lead up to the Second United Nations High-level Meeting on TB. 

The Council is anticipated to work in multiple ways. These include

1. identifying needs for, and types of innovative sustainable financial solutions, as well as partnerships between the public, private and philanthropic sectors that can expedite the translation of science into TB vaccines, and ensure their equitable access once available;
2. identifying market solutions to incentivize TB vaccine development, and to ensure that the R&D ecosystem is positioned to rapidly manufacture and distribute vaccines equitably and at scale, once they are available; and
3. advocating with decision makers in the public, private, philanthropy and other relevant sectors to strengthen commitment and concerted action to develop and expand access to novel effective TB vaccines, including through political platforms such as the African Union, ASEAN, BRICS, G20, G7 and others.

The Council will have multiple platforms, the highest level being a Ministerial Board. Another high-level strategic body, a Principal Group will engage senior leadership from financing organizations, philanthropy, public health agencies, relevant partnerships and international agencies and representative of people affected by TB. The Members of the Ministerial Board and Principal Group will serve on a rotating basis, for a term of two years.

Other stakeholders, including research organizations, private sector, scientist, regulators, civil society, and others will be engaged through subsidiary bodies. For more information, see the "architecture of the Council".

The TB vaccine accelerator council is a WHO initiative, an informal voluntary network to exchange views, share information, and enhance technical and political co-operation. It is not a distinct legal entity, and it derives its legal status from WHO. Thus, it shall be administered by WHO, which provides its Secretariat.