Vaccines: A Powerful Weapon Against Antimicrobial Resistance
Vaccines: A Powerful Weapon Against Antimicrobial Resistance
New WHO report reveals the potential of vaccines to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and reduce antibiotic usage globally.
A groundbreaking report from the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights that vaccines targeting 24 pathogens could potentially reduce antibiotic usage by 22 percent or 2.5 billion defined daily doses annually on a global scale. Implementing vaccines for all these pathogens could result in saving a third of AMR-related hospital expenses.
The Role of Vaccination in Combating AMR
Vaccination plays a pivotal role in infection prevention, thereby minimizing antibiotic dependence and bolstering global initiatives against the escalating issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The report indicates that comprehensive vaccine deployment against these pathogens could cut down one-third of the hospital costs linked with AMR.
AMR is fueled by the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials, leading to more severe illnesses, increased mortality, and the proliferation of tough-to-treat infections. Annually, AMR accounts for nearly 5 million deaths across the globe.
"Preventing infections is the cornerstone of addressing antimicrobial resistance, and vaccines are among the most effective tools for achieving this goal," stated Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
Ghebreyesus urged for "enhanced access to existing vaccines and the development of new ones for critical diseases like tuberculosis (TB)" to combat AMR.
Global Efforts and Potential Impact
This report emerges as world leaders at the 79th UN General Assembly high-level meeting on AMR, held in September, pledged to reduce bacterial AMR-related deaths by 10 percent annually by 2030.
According to the report:
- Vaccines currently used against pneumococcal pneumonia, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), and typhoid could potentially prevent up to 106,000 AMR-related deaths each year.
- An additional 543,000 AMR-related deaths could be avoided annually with the introduction of new vaccines for diseases like tuberculosis (TB) and Klebsiella pneumoniae on a global scale.
- Achieving the Immunization Agenda 2030 target could save 33 million antibiotic doses for Streptococcus pneumoniae annually.
- Typhoid vaccines may prevent the usage of 45 million antibiotic doses.
- Vaccines addressing malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum could curb up to 25 million doses often improperly used for malaria treatment.
Looking Ahead
Notably, forthcoming TB vaccines are projected to have a substantial impact, saving between 1.2 to 1.9 billion antibiotic doses once developed. This underscores the critical importance of continued vaccine research and development in the global fight against antimicrobial resistance.
