Vaccines and Antimicrobial Resistance: Connecting the Dots
November 18, 2025
Blog by Charlotte Vernhes, Director Scientific and Medical Affairs at Vaccines Europe
As we mark this year’s AMR Awareness Week, I’m reflecting on how much progress we’ve made in the past two years on the intersection of vaccines and antimicrobial resistance, and how much remains to be done.
The global challenge of AMR has been on the agenda for some time, yet the recent World Health Organization Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) report brings into sharp relief not just how urgent this issue has become, but also how efforts to date have fallen short in addressing this critical threat. According to the 2025 report, 1 in 6 laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections worldwide in 2023 were resistant to antibiotic treatments, with figures rising to about 1 in 3 in regions such as South-East Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean [1]. These figures make clear that preserving the effectiveness of existing antibiotics must remain an urgent global priority, not only through efforts to fix the antimicrobial market failure, but also through continued antimicrobial stewardship, and by developing and reinforcing the use of critical tools such as vaccines and diagnostics.
The link between preventing infections, including through immunisation and reducing antibiotic use is well established. Rotavirus vaccination alone is estimated to prevent 13.6 million antibiotic-treated episodes annually in children under 5 in low- and middle-income countries [2]. WHO reported last year that if coverage of current vaccines reached 90% globally, up to 106 000 deaths could be averted annually, and it would reduce antibiotic use by 142 million defined daily doses yearly [3]. Despite this, the two fields of vaccines and AMR have too often remained siloed. While national AMR action plans regularly emphasise infection prevention and control, and veterinary vaccines have gained some traction, human vaccines have often been overlooked in AMR strategies.
Fortunately, this is changing. Over the past two years, the role of vaccination in addressing AMR has moved from being a niche subject discussed mostly within vaccine fora to being increasingly featured in broader AMR conversations. For example, I’ve had the opportunity to speak at scientific conferences and engage with patients, often among the most vulnerable to resistant infections, and healthcare professionals who play a key role in awareness and stewardship. Furthermore, at the High-Level Conference on AMR organised by the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union in Aarhus on 19th November, I will participate in a roundtable on AMR Policy, Incentives, and the Role of University Hospitals, alongside colleagues from academia, industry and foundations.
During these events, I’ve highlighted that the vaccine industry focuses on 3 pillars reflecting both immediate opportunities and long-term responsibilities in the AMR response.
1. For current vaccines
We must better leverage the vaccines we already have. This includes improving vaccine coverage rates through a life-course immunisation approach, in alignment with National AMR Action Plans and National Immunisation Programmes (NIPs). Existing vaccines such as pneumococcal, influenza and rotavirus already reduce bacterial infections and significantly lower antibiotic use but gaps in coverage remain.
2. For future vaccines
We need regulatory and assessment frameworks that fully recognise the full value of vaccines, including their contribution to tackling AMR. Vaccines targeting resistant pathogens or reducing the need for antibiotics should be valued not only for the diseases they prevent, but also for their strategic role in reducing resistance.
3. For all vaccines
Strengthening surveillance systems and generating robust evidence are essential, both to develop new vaccines, and to quantify and demonstrate the role of vaccination in preventing antimicrobial resistance. Better data will support the integration of vaccination into AMR strategies and inform coherent policy action.
A vital question that often comes up in many of my engagements is: how do we actually implement these links between immunisation and AMR strategies in practice? During a panel on AMR and Vaccines I co-organised at ESCMID Global last year, an audience member highlighted a critical gap: many National Immunisation Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) lack expertise in AMR. If the experts assessing vaccines are not equipped to evaluate their impact on resistance, how can countries integrate AMR considerations into immunisation planning? Addressing this knowledge gap is essential if we want to meaningfully connect national immunisation programmes and national AMR plans.
As AMR Awareness Week reminds us, the challenge ahead is enormous, yet progress is tangible. Vaccines are increasingly recognised as a frontline defence in the fight against AMR, reducing infections, limiting antibiotic use and helping preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics.
There is still much to do, from evidence generation to policy alignment to ensuring the right conditions for vaccine development and uptake, but the trajectory is encouraging. By working together across disciplines and sectors, we can ensure that every vaccine counts: for preventing disease, and for preserving the effectiveness of antimicrobials.
[1] https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116337/
[2] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7332418/
