New Investments in Vaccine Development Needed

A recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO) finds that vaccines against 23 pathogens could reduce the number of antibiotics needed by 22% annually, supporting worldwide efforts to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

The misuse and overuse of antimicrobials primarily drive AMR.

While some vaccines are already available but underused, the WHO says others need to be developed and brought to the market as soon as possible.

The new report expands on Original Research published in BMJ Global Health on October 18, 2023. It estimates that vaccines already in use against pneumococcus pneumonia, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib, a bacteria causing pneumonia and meningitis), and typhoid could avert up to 106,000 deaths associated with AMR yearly.

An additional 543,000 deaths associated with AMR could be averted annually when new vaccines for tuberculosis (TB) and Klebsiella pneumoniae are developed and rolled out globally. While several new TB vaccines are in clinical trials, one against Klebsiella pneumoniae is in the early stage of development.

“Addressing antimicrobial resistance starts with preventing infections, and vaccines are among the most powerful tools for doing that,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, in a WHO press release.

“Prevention is better than cure, and increasing access to existing vaccines and developing new ones for critical diseases, like tuberculosis, is critical to saving lives and turning the tide on AMR.”