Vaccines have the potential to reduce global antibiotic use by 2.5 billion doses a year, according to a report from Wellcome Trust, which underscores their role in curbing antimicrobial resistance.
The report presents findings from 11 Wellcome Trust-funded research projects focusing on how vaccines impact antimicrobial resistance, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
It draws on a 2024 World Health Organization modeling study that estimated that vaccines could not only help prevent more than 500,000 deaths from drug-resistant infections annually but could save billions in healthcare costs linked to antimicrobial resistance.
The charitable foundation’s report cautions that the relationship between vaccines and antibiotic use is complex. Data from vaccines targeting influenza, typhoid, pneumococcal disease, malaria and diarrheal diseases show variable impacts on antibiotic consumption, influenced by pathogen type, healthcare infrastructure and regional factors
