Anti-microbial resistance vaccines: communicating their true value

Vaccines are incredibly powerful public health tools, but their roles in helping to control anti-microbial resistance (AMR) have been both under- and over-estimated by the public and by the scientific community. Part of the explanation lies in the seeming 'disconnect' between the broad nature of AMR, which affects a wide range of pathogens, and the very focused, pathogen-specific design of most vaccines. With that in mind, the scientific and public health communities can do better in how we communicate the potential value of vaccines against AMR. Even if we do so, however, it is difficult to envision the introduction of new standalone vaccines targeting antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, especially if they require multiple additional doses, into immunization programmes already saturated with a large number of vaccines. To facilitate the introduction of these needed vaccines against AMR into national immunization programmes, the public health community can and should encourage the design and development of combination vaccine formulations. This article is part of the Royal Society Science+ meeting issue 'Vaccines and antimicrobial resistance: from science to policy'.