Integrating National Immunization Strategy and National AMR Action Plan - Who is available to write an opinion piece with me?

Dear Colleagues,

I am attempting to write an opinion piece on "Marrying National Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan with National Immunization Strategy: Strategically Leveraging Vaccination Efforts to Reduce Antimicrobial Resistance in Humans". While technically supporting in the development of NIS and National AMR Action Plan in a few countries, I realized it would be important to inform the immunization program managers and the epidemiological division manager to talk to each other and address the growing concern of AMR. 

Here is some background:

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical public health problem. Infections caused by drug-resistant organisms could lead to increased mortality and prolonged duration of hospitalization, causing a huge financial burden to the affected persons and healthcare systems, and hindering the goals of sustainable development. Vaccination can reduce antimicrobial use by decreasing bacterial and viral infections and vaccines are highlighted in the WHO Global Action Plan on AMR as an infection prevention measure to reduce AMR. While vaccination to reduce AMR is seen as an important global public health issue by WHO, there appears to be an inadequate health system strengthening effort to integrate and align national immunization strategies and national AMR action plans with each other.

WHO, UNICEF and partners have developed and published a framework to support countries in a five-year national immunization strategy development and guidelines in August 2021 to build on the experience of comprehensive multiyear plans of national immunization programs. It emphasizes, (1) greater integration of immunization with other health interventions, national planning cycles, and UHC target-setting, (2) increased focus on long-term goals with intermediary objectives and key strategies needed to achieve them, (3) country ownership with inclusive design processes, and (3) tailored approaches that take account of local and national context.

Similarly, tripartite collaboration with the World Health Organization, Food and Agricultural Organization, and World Organization for Animal Health developed the guidelines for countries to develop their national AMR action plans to systematically and strategically curb AMR at the country level. Later, the quadripartite collaboration (WHO, FAO, UNEP, and WOAH) further emphasized the development of national AMR action plans with costing, budgeting, and securing the financial resources and political commitment for its implementation.

Informing the global community, program managers, and government in ensuring the integration and alignment of national immunization strategy is critical to ensure the benefit of immunizations to reduce antimicrobial resistance development in humans. Further, such integration and alignment at the systems level are also important for the prevention of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria transmission from humans to other animals and the environment. This is the right time as national immunization strategies and national AMR action plans are being developed in multiple countries. 

If you agree to join the force and contribute to the development of the manuscript for submission in a peer-reviewed journal, please let me know and we can discuss in greater length. My email is [email protected].