In the relentless battle against antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a groundbreaking study led by the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine offers a glimmer of hope.
The research, recently published in BMJ Global Health, underscores the immense potential of vaccines in saving over half a million lives annually and taming the deadly AMR crisis.
Globally, AMR claims a staggering 4.95 million lives each year, with low- and middle-income countries bearing the brunt of drug-resistant infections. The World Health Assembly identified AMR as one of the top ten threats to public health, prompting an urgent quest for effective strategies to combat this global menace.
The study, based on data from 2019, delves into the power of both existing and new vaccines in targeting priority pathogens listed by WHO. The researchers predict that by deploying these vaccines among key populations, the lives of more than 500,000 people can be saved annually.
Furthermore, a staggering 28 million disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), a measure of the impact of diseases on years lived with disability or lost due to premature death, could be averted.
To achieve these life-saving results, the study emphasizes the need for strategic vaccination initiatives that encompass seven additional vaccines. By expanding the scope of vaccination efforts, an additional 1.2 million lives could be spared, and a staggering 37 million DALYs prevented.
The impact of such vaccination efforts would be particularly significant in the WHO African and South-East Asian regions, which currently shoulder two-thirds of the burden of vaccine-preventable AMR. Notably, the strategic vaccination approach would play a pivotal role in reducing AMR related to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) and Streptococcus pneumoniae in these regions. In 2021, drug-resistant TB accounted for 3.6% of new cases and 18% of previously treated cases.
Vaccination, as a powerful tool against AMR, complements other preventive measures such as access to clean water, improved sanitation and hygiene, robust infection prevention and control programs, and appropriate use of antibiotics and diagnostic tools.
By curbing infections among both vaccinated and unvaccinated populations, vaccines significantly reduce the demand for antimicrobials, thus mitigating the risk of misuse and stemming the emergence and spread of resistant strains.
As the world grapples with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, revitalizing immunization systems and expanding vaccine access to at-risk populations becomes an imperative step. The economic cost of AMR is projected to soar to a staggering USD$100 trillion between 2014 and 2050, highlighting the urgency of scaling up vaccination efforts to combat this pervasive threat.
Embracing vaccines as a lifeline could usher in a brighter, healthier future, steering us away from the brink of a potential global health catastrophe.
Source: WHO