World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva. —Photo by Fabrice Coffrini/Agence France-Presse
MANILA, PHILIPPINES — A new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) says that vaccines against 24 pathogens could reduce the daily doses of antibiotics needed around the world, thereby reducing antimicrobial resistance (AMR). It turns out that global efforts to address it could be supported.
Some of these vaccines are already available but underutilized, while others need to be developed and brought to market as soon as possible.
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The 168-page report, titled “Estimating the Impact of Vaccines in Reducing Antimicrobial Resistance and Antibiotic Use,” assesses the role of vaccines in reducing AMR and provides recommendations to increase their effectiveness. are.
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AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites become unresponsive to antibiotics, making people sicker and increasing the risk of illness, death, and the spread of difficult-to-treat infections.
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This is mainly caused by the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, especially antibiotics. But at the same time, many people around the world do not have access to essential antibiotics.
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The report, published Oct. 10, analyzed 44 vaccines against 24 pathogens (19 bacteria, four viruses and one parasite).
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The report found that vaccines already in use against typhoid fever and pneumococcal pneumonia, such as Haemophilus influenzae type B and HiB, the bacteria that cause pneumonia and meningitis, are responsible for up to 106,000 deaths per year associated with AMR. It is estimated that human deaths could be avoided.
The pentavalent vaccine (5-in-1), which the Department of Health (DOH) provides free of charge to newborn infants under the National Immunization Program, provides protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, and HiB.
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Vaccine development
If new vaccines against tuberculosis and Klebsiella pneumoniae are developed and rolled out around the world, an additional 543,000 AMR-related deaths per year could be avoided.
“Tackling antimicrobial resistance starts with preventing infectious diseases, and vaccines are one of the most powerful tools to do so,” WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement.
“Prevention is better than cure, and increasing access to existing vaccines and developing new vaccines for serious diseases such as tuberculosis are critical to saving lives and turning the tide on AMR.” he added.
Hospitalization fee
According to WHO estimates, nearly 5 million AMR-related deaths occur worldwide each year.
Vaccinated people have fewer infections and are protected from potential complications from secondary infections that may require antibiotics or hospitalization.
For example, vaccines against pneumococci, including the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) that DOH-NIP is providing free of charge to seniors, could save 33 million doses of antibiotics.
A tuberculosis vaccine (which is also mandatory for newborns in the Philippines) could save between 1.2 billion and 1.9 billion antibiotic doses.
Hospital costs for treating resistant pathogens assessed in the report are estimated at $730 billion (P42 trillion) each year worldwide.
If vaccines could be rolled out against all pathogens evaluated, a third of hospital costs associated with AMR could be saved and the daily amount of antibiotics needed globally could be reduced by 22 percent or 2.5 billion. There is.
Reducing fatal accidents
At the 79th High-Level Session of the United Nations General Assembly on 26 September, world leaders approved a declaration committing their countries to a clear set of goals and actions by 2030. For example, reducing the estimated 4.95 million deaths related to AMR by 10 percent. Bacterial AMR.
In the Philippines, the Institute of Tropical Medicine recorded 15,700 deaths attributed to AMR and 56,700 AMR-related deaths in 2019 alone.
To prevent the spread of infection, the DOH cautions citizens against self-medicating or using antibiotics without consulting a doctor.
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The DOH also reminds the public to complete the prescribed treatment course or take the full dose of antibiotics.
