Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing threat to public health. It decreases the effectiveness of treating bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. AMR happens when microbes change over time and stop responding to medications that once treated infections, causing a higher risk of the spread of disease, severe illness, and death.
Overuse or inappropriate use of antimicrobial medicines contributes to the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance and drug-resistant infections. WHO estimates that almost 5 million deaths are associated with resistant bacterial infections yearly.
Treating resistant infections has economic consequences, like increased healthcare costs, prolonged hospital stays, and time off work.
Vaccines play an important role in preventing infections by blocking the transmission of diseases that cause infections. People vaccinated against diseases are less likely to get sick as often, which helps reduce the inappropriately prescribed antimicrobials that are not needed for viral infections.
Since antimicrobials are not needed for viral infections, they are unnecessary and can aid in the mutation of pathogens, leading to AMR.
It is important to vaccinate against all diseases so that AMR does not keep increasing. This will ensure antimicrobial medications can be used for future generations.