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Vaccines as a Critical Yet Underutilized Tool in the Fight Against Antimicrobial Resistance

Dr. Mateusz Hasso-Agopsowicz, Technical Officer, World Health Organization 
Dr. Oluoma Agiri, Research Analyst, One Health Trust 
Dr. Yogesh Hooda, Scientist Lead for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Child Health Research Foundation 
Dr. Jackline Kiarie, Regional Programme Manager, Amref Health Africa 
Sabin Vaccine Institute Global Community Engagement and Applied Learning Team  

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses one of the most urgent global health threats of our time, with projections estimating 10 million annual deaths by 2050 if left unchecked1. While much of the discourse around AMR focuses on antibiotic stewardship and infection control, a recent expert-led webinar on the Role of Immunization in Fighting Antimicrobial Resistance, hosted by the Sabin Vaccine Institute, highlighted an underappreciated yet powerful weapon in this fight: vaccines. The discussion, grounded in real-world evidence and modeling data, presented a compelling case for prioritizing immunization as a dual-purpose intervention, preventing infections, and curbing the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. 

The Dual Impact of Vaccines on AMR 

Vaccines address AMR through two key mechanisms: 

  1. Direct prevention of infections caused by vaccine-preventable disease pathogens (e.g., typhoid, pneumococcal disease) that are drug-sensitive and drug-resistant, reducing the need for antibiotics. 
  2. Indirect protection through herd immunity, limiting the spread of resistant strains in communities. 

Notably, World Health Organization (WHO) modeling presented during the webinar revealed that optimal use of existing and new vaccines could avert an estimated 515,000 AMR–associated deaths globally2. Furthermore, combining vaccination with water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and infection prevention and control (IPC) interventions, could prevent up to 750,000 AMR–associated deaths annually in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs3). Yet only 13% (14/108) of National Action Plans on AMR currently include vaccination/immunization as an important measure in preventing infections4.  

Lessons from the Field: Bangladesh and Zimbabwe 

Case studies from Bangladesh (typhoid conjugate vaccine rollout began October 12, 2025) and Zimbabwe (integrated cholera/typhoid campaigns) demonstrated vaccines’ potential impact. Bangladesh’s program is projected to reduce resistant Salmonella Typhi strains, based on modeling studies estimating the impact of typhoid conjugate vaccines (TCV). However, real-world data are not yet available, as these vaccines have only recently been introduced in Bangladesh5. Zimbabwe’s approach, on the other hand, significantly reduced outbreaks of cholera and typhoid infections caused by drug-resistant pathogens. These successes underscore that vaccination is not theoretical, it’s a proven, scalable solution. 

Barriers to Implementation 

Despite the evidence, systemic challenges persist: 

  • Gaps in pre-service and in–service health workforce training programs: Limited focus on the role of vaccines in averting AMR in workforce curricula and continuous professional education opportunities 
  • Fragmented health systems: Immunization and AMR programs often operate in silos, missing synergistic opportunities 
  • Surveillance gaps: Few countries track the downstream effects of vaccines on antibiotic use or resistance patterns or overall healthcare access 
  • Financing and equity: LMICs face hurdles in sustaining vaccine access amid competing priorities 
  • Vaccine hesitancy and dwindling vaccine uptake  

A Call to Action 

To translate evidence into policy, three steps are critical: 

  1. Integrate vaccines into AMR strategies with measurable targets, as seen Zimbabwe’s typhoid program 
  2. Invest in research and development for high-priority pathogens (e.g., Klebsiella, drug-resistant TB) lacking effective vaccines  
  3. Strengthen cross-sector collaboration between immunization, AMR, primary care teams, and WASH and IPC actors to align objectives 

The Path Forward 

The webinar’s consensus was clear: vaccines are a cost-effective, proactive tool against AMR, but their potential remains untapped. As resistance escalates, policymakers must move beyond antibiotic-centric approaches and embrace immunization as a cornerstone of AMR mitigation. The time for action is now, before the silent pandemic of AMR becomes unstoppable. 

This webinar was supported by an Unrestricted Educational Grant from GSK Global Health. 

 

  1.  https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)01867-1/fulltext
  2. World Health Organization (WHO), 2024. Estimating the impact of vaccines in reducing antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic use.
  3. Lewnard JA, Charani E, Gleason A, Hsu LY, Khan WA, Karkey A, et al. Burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in low-income and middle-income countries avertible by existing interventions: an evidence review and modelling analysis. The Lancet. 2024 June 1;403(10442):2439–54.
  4. Charani, Esmita, Marc Mendelson, Scott J C Pallett, et al. 2023. “An Analysis of Existing National Action Plans for Antimicrobial Resistance—Gaps and Opportunities in Strategies Optimising Antibiotic Use in Human Populations.” The Lancet Global Health 11 (3): e466–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(23)00019-0.
  5. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6405272/ and
    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X24003220