A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified that greater investment in vaccines could prevent deaths due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The report outlines how vaccines could reduce the amount of antibiotics needed by 22 percent or 2.5 billion globally defined daily doses each year, supporting global efforts to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change and no longer respond to medications designed to kill them, making infections more difficult to treat. It is largely due to the misuse and excessive use of antimicrobial medications.
According to the WHO, AMR is the third leading cause of mortality in the world, with more than one million deaths directly related to bacterial AMR and five million deaths indirectly.
The WHO projected that antimicrobial resistance will cause 39 million deaths worldwide over the next 25 years, equivalent to more than three deaths every minute.
Report details, estimates.
According to the WHO, the report titled: “Estimation of the impact of vaccines on reducing antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic use” evaluates the role of vaccines in reducing antimicrobial resistance and offers the main stakeholders recommendations to improve the impact of vaccines on antimicrobial resistance.
It evaluates 44 vaccines targeting 24 pathogens: 19 bacteria, four viruses and one parasite.
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The new report, which builds on an earlier WHO study published in BMJ Global Health in 2023, estimates that 543,000 AMR-related deaths could be prevented each year when new TB and TB vaccines are developed and distributed globally. Klebsiella pneumonia.
He added that vaccines against pneumococcal pneumonia, haemophilus influenza type B and typhoid fever could prevent 106,000 associated deaths.
In his remarks, WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus emphasized that addressing antimicrobial resistance begins with infection prevention, stating that “vaccines are among the most powerful tools to achieve this.”
“Prevention is better than cure, and increasing access to existing vaccines and developing new ones for critical diseases such as tuberculosis is essential to saving lives and turning the tide on antimicrobial resistance,” said Mr Ghebreyesus.
Vaccines prevent infection
The WHO emphasized that vaccinated people have fewer infections and are protected against possible complications from secondary infections that may require antimicrobial medications or require hospital admission.
It also analyzed the impact of already authorized vaccines, as well as vaccines at different stages of development.
Each year, the WHO noted that vaccines against Streptococcus pneumoniae could save 33 million doses of antibiotics, “if the Immunization Agenda 2030 goal of vaccinating 90 percent of the world's children, as well as older adults ”.
Meanwhile, typhoid fever could save 45 million doses of antibiotics and malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum could save up to 25 million doses of antibiotics.
He added that tuberculosis could have the biggest impact once vaccines are fully developed, with estimates projecting a saving of between 1.2 and 1.9 billion doses of antibiotics.
The goal of world leaders
Newslodgereported that world leaders at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79) recently committed to reducing total AMR-associated deaths worldwide by 10 percent by 2030.
In a 15-page political declaration signed by 193 member states, they committed to strengthening governance mechanisms for the response to AMR, using a One Health approach, which involves addressing AMR in human, animal and plant health.
They committed to increasing sustainable investments at national, regional and global levels to strengthen national capacities for AMR response.
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The document also stated that they will ensure equitable and timely access to antimicrobials, vaccines and diagnostics in developing countries, especially low- and middle-income countries.
They committed to strengthening national infection prevention and control programs in health care facilities and promoting innovative financing mechanisms for multisectoral health research and development.