Advancing vaccine uptake to mitigate antimicrobial resistance in low- and middle-income countries of South or South-East Asia

Context

AMR represents a significant public health threat in the Philippines, with a high number of deaths attributed to AMR. Despite advancements in immunization programmes, gaps in coverage, especially in underserved areas, continue to hinder progress. Vaccines play a vital role in reducing infections that contribute to AMR.

Problem

The project addresses the underutilization of vaccines in controlling AMR. The lack of integration between vaccination programmes and AMR strategies in the Philippines presents a gap that the project aims to fill by promoting the role of vaccines in AMR mitigation.

Vaccines have long been recognized for their role in preventing disease, but their power to reduce reliance on antibiotics is often overlooked. By supporting this project, we aim to promote innovative, evidence-based approaches that place vaccines at the centre of AMR strategies in LMICs.

Dr Nandini Sreenivasan, Senior Science Advisor, ICARS

Project overview

This 18-month project, led by the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health and IQVIA Asia Pacific, will address AMR by leveraging vaccine uptake in LMICs and integrating vaccine programmes with AMR control strategies at national and sub-national levels. With a focus on the Philippines and key pathogen-vaccine pairs (such as Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae) the project will use data from immunization and AMR surveillance programmes. By addressing data gaps and fostering collaboration through an AMR and Vaccines Network, the project seeks to develop a framework for reducing antibiotic use via vaccination while raising awareness of vaccines as a tool to control AMR, improve vaccine uptake, and promote AMR prevention in LMICs.

Through this project, we hope to bridge the gap between immunization programmes and AMR policy. We envision a future where vaccines are routinely considered a first line of defence not only against infection, but also against the rise of drug-resistant pathogens.

Dr Geminn Louis C. Apostol, Project Leader, Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health

Outcomes

The project will establish a multidisciplinary AMR and Vaccines Network, identify gaps in real-world data, and develop a comprehensive action plan for leveraging vaccines in the fight against AMR. Advocacy campaigns will elevate the discourse on the role of vaccines in AMR control, promoting their wider use as a preventive tool.

Strengthening vaccine uptake in LMICs is an essential step toward safeguarding global health security. This collaboration with ICARS and our partners in the Philippines underscores the pivotal role of vaccines in a comprehensive AMR strategy.

Laura Plant, Head of External Affairs at the European Regional Office of the International Vaccine Institute (IVI)