AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medication. It is one of the leading global public health and development threats, with nearly 5 million related deaths each year. The main cause is the overuse and misuse of antibiotics.
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Vaccines are an essential part of the global effort to reduce AMR because they prevent infections, reduce the use and misuse of antibiotics, and slow the emergence and spread of drug-resistant pathogens.
The power of vaccines
“Addressing antibiotic resistance starts with preventing infections and Vaccines are one of the most powerful tools to do that,” speak Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO General Director.
the report discovered that vaccines against 24 pathogens could reduce the number of antibiotics needed by 22%, equivalent to 2.5 billion daily identified doses globally each year, thus supporting international efforts to tackle AMR.
Although some of these vaccines are already available but have not been widely used, others need to be developed and brought to market as soon as possible.
Prevent deaths, increase vaccine access
Extensive report on oneWHO researchwas published last year. It is estimated that the vaccine has been used against pneumococcal pneumonia, Haemophilus influenzatype B (Hib) causes pneumonia, meningitis and typhoid, up to 106,000 AMR-related deaths could be prevented each year.
An additional 543,000 related deaths could also be prevented annually with new vaccines for tuberculosis (TB) and Klebsiella pneumoniae,Developed and deployed globally.
“Prevention is better than cure, and increasing access to existing vaccines and developing new vaccines for serious diseases, such as tuberculosis, is important. crucial to saving lives and turning the tide of AMR”, said Tedros, head of WHO.
Furthermore, vaccinated people are less likely to get infections and are protected from potential complications from secondary infections that may require antibiotics or hospitalization.
For example, WHO notes that annual vaccination againstStreptococcus pneumoniae33 million doses of antibiotics could be saved if 90% of the world’s children were vaccinated, along with older adults.
Action statement
Vaccines could also significantly reduce the significant economic costs of AMR.
Globally, hospital costs for treating drug-resistant pathogens assessed in the report are estimated at $730 billion per year. A vaccine targeting all of them could save a third of AMR-related hospital costs.
During the High-Level Week of the United Nations General Assembly in September, world leaders adopted a resolutionpolitical statementcommit to a clear set of targets and actions on AMR, including a 10% reduction in annual bacterial AMR-related deaths by 2030.
The declaration highlights key aspects, including the importance of access to vaccines, medicines, treatments and diagnostics, as well as the need for financial mechanisms to support research and innovation in addressing AMR.
