Vaccines Global Summit

One of the greatest public health challenges of the 21st century is antimicrobial resistance, or AMR as commonly used. Otherwise known as an infamous global health problem, this occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites develop mechanisms of resistance to the effects of antimicrobial drugs, including antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungal agents. AMR normally renders conventional therapies ineffective and fosters persistent infections that increase mortality rates, thus further loading the healthcare systems of the world. The overuse and misuse of antibiotics in human medicine, agriculture, and livestock production have significantly accelerated the emergence of AMR. Bacteria and other pathogens evolve to survive these drugs, mutating into ""superbugs"" that medicines that once destroyed them no longer control. This threatens modern medicine because infections once easily treatable are beginning to be less feasible to manage. Common infections such as tuberculosis and pneumonia, as well as urinary tract infections, have become resistant to first-line antibiotics. Routine surgery and minor injuries could one day turn deadly if the reality of today's treatment becomes today's norms.

The effort against AMR at the global level through public awareness, antibiotic stewardship, and the development of new approaches for treatments, vaccines in particular, begins to take shape. Vaccination is an important means of preventing the development of AMR because the prevention of any infection serves as a primary step. For instance, the ability to prevent bacterial infections, such as pneumococcal disease and tuberculosis, reduces the degree of prescription of antibiotics for infections, which consequently results in fewer chances for resistance to arise. Additionally, controlling the burden of infectious diseases in populations can also reduce the prevalence of resistant pathogens through vaccination. In addition to these vaccines, studies are being conducted to develop new vaccines that can target resistant bacteria and other pathogens.

Vaccines are one of the most important interventions in the prevention of infection spread, thus reducing the dependence on antimicrobial treatments. Antimicrobial resistance is a threat to global health, it will require concerted action through promoting responsible antimicrobial use, strengthening infection prevention measures, and ongoing innovation in vaccines and drugs. While the threat of AMR is rising, something more comprehensive must be done to protect the future of global health.