May 04, 2026
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) happens when viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites evolve over time and stop responding to medicines, making infections tough to treat and raising the risk of disease spread, serious illness, and death.
By the numbers: In India in 2021, there were –
- 1,580,000 Deaths from Bacterial Infections
- 987,254 Deaths Associated with Bacterial AMR
- 266,734 Deaths Attributed to Bacterial AMR
There were 416,000 deaths associated with AMR among adults 70 and over.
The Role of Vaccines in Controlling AMR
- Vaccines reduce infections by providing direct protection and promoting herd immunity.
- Prevention of infections reduces the spread of drug-resistant germs and the need for treatment with antibiotics.
- Treating drug-resistant infections is expensive. Vaccines reduce healthcare costs and prevent catastrophic expenses for families.
Top Recommendations to Leverage Vaccines in the Fight to Control AMR in India
- Prioritise the typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV) and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) due to their strong impact on disease burden, antibiotic use, and AMR.
- Implement routine TCV in childhood immunization, with catch-up campaigns up to 15 years and targeted expansion to high-risk adult populations.
- Expand coverage of TCV among adults (≥65 years and high-risk groups), supported by affordable, higher-valency vaccines.
- Introduce seasonal influenza vaccination in a phased manner, prioritizing children, the elderly, healthcare workers, and high-risk populations.
- Implement a tiered, phased national vaccination roadmap, aligned with AMR surveillance, stewardship, and domestic vaccine production.
