Vaccines Could Cut Global Antibiotic Use by 22%: WHO

A new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that expanding the use of vaccines could significantly curb the need for antibiotics, reducing global antibiotic use by 22%, or 2.5 billion defined daily doses annually. The findings align with global efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a growing public health concern linked to nearly 5 million deaths each year.

"Addressing antimicrobial resistance starts with preventing infections, and vaccines are among the most powerful tools for doing that," said Tedros Adhanom, Director General, WHO. 

AMR occurs when pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites become resistant to antimicrobial drugs, making infections harder to treat, according to the WHO. This resistance is fueled by the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials, as well as inadequate access to necessary medications in many parts of the world. By reducing the number of infections, vaccines lessen the reliance on antibiotics, slowing the spread of drug-resistant pathogens.

The report underscores the potential of existing vaccines, such as those for pneumococcus pneumonia, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), and typhoid. These vaccines alone could prevent up to 106,000 AMR-associated deaths annually, according to WHO. The impact could be even greater with the development of new vaccines for tuberculosis (TB) and Klebsiella pneumoniae, potentially preventing an additional 543,000 deaths each year. 

The WHO's analysis highlights the economic benefits of a vaccine-driven approach. Annually, the treatment of resistant infections costs hospitals an estimated US$730 billion worldwide. Broader vaccine deployment could potentially reduce these expenses by a third. Vaccines, according to the report, are not only effective at preventing illness but also at lowering hospital admissions and the need for secondary treatments that involve antibiotics.

The report estimates that meeting the Immunization Agenda 2030 target, vaccinating 90% of the world's children and older adults against Streptococcus pneumoniae, could save 33 million antibiotic doses annually. Also, introducing typhoid vaccines in high-burden countries could prevent the need for an additional 45 million doses. The largest potential impact, however, comes from TB vaccines, which could reduce antibiotic use by 1.2 to 1.9 billion doses annually once developed.

“Tuberculosis remains a significant global health challenge, despite common misconceptions that it is eradicated or confined to the poorest countries. Tuberculosis is the leading infectious disease killer worldwide, claiming nearly 2 million lives annually,” says Paulo Gropp, Vice President for Latin America, QIAGEN.