KEMRI and Partners Unveil Strategic Policy Brief on Using Vaccines to Curb Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Kenya
NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 30 – The policy brief on AMR has finally been launched by KEMRI, One Health Trust and Global Antibiotic Resistance Partnership(GARP) technical working group have officially unveiled a strategic roadmap for leveraging vaccines to combat Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Kenya.
Ag. Director Research and Development Dr. Erick Muok representing Ag.DG Prof. Elijah Songok officially unveiled the policy brief noting that AMR is a silent but escalating threat to public health, calling for urgent, coordinated action and stronger investment in prevention especially vaccines to reduce infections and antibiotic misuse.
The launch brought together key AMR stakeholders including GARP exparts led by its chairperson Dr. Robert Onsare, OHT President Dr. Ramanan Laxminarayan, Dr. Erta Kalanxhi and Dr. Padmini Srikantiah from Gates Foundation.
Kenya Medical Research Institute, in collaboration with One Health Trust and the Global Antibiotic Resistance Partnership, is taking a bold step to address one of the most pressing global health threats Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
The policy brief launch “The Impact of Antimicrobial Resistance in Kenya.” is a milestone underscores the urgent need for coordinated, evidence-based action to safeguard public health.
AMR is a silent pandemic but it is preventable. Strengthening vaccination systems is a critical strategy to stop infections before they start, reduce antibiotic use, and slow resistance.
The impact of Antimicrobial Resistance in Kenya Deaths from Bacterial Infections DeathsAssociated with Bacterial AMR Deaths Attributed to Bacterial AMR Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) happens when viruses, bacteria, fungi andparasites evolve over time and stop responding to medicines, making infections tough to treat and raising the risk of disease spread, serious illness and death.
In Kenya in 2021 there were 63,498 Deaths from Bacterial Infections, 28,548 Deaths Associated with Bacterial AMR and 6,666 Deaths Attributed to Bacterial AMR Additionally, There were 7,339 deaths associated with AMR and 1,620 deaths attributable to AMR in children under 5 years old.
Vaccines to Control Antimicrobial Resistance in Kenya: Projections from mathematical models and evidence from clinical studies.
Vaccines reduce the spread of drug-resistant infections and antibiotic use. Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV), Typhoid caused 753 deaths and took 56,807 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in 2023 in Kenya.
TCV was rolled out in July 2025 and is now part of Kenya Expanded Programme on Immunization targeting children under 15 years of age.
The TCV vaccine is prediced to avert 570,000 cases of antimicrobial-resistant typhoid, 4,674 deaths, and 243,000 DALYs.
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV)- Pneumococcal disease causes 8,000-10,000 deaths in children under 5 years annually in Kenya.
PCV is available and part of the Kenya Expanded Programme on Immunization at 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age. PCV vaccination is projected to prevent 14,329 deaths and 101,513 cases of pneumococcal disease from 2022-2032.
Tuberculosis (TB) caused 7,760 deaths in 2023 and costed 359,074 DALYs in 2023 TB vaccine for adolescents and adults is not yet available, but evaluation is ongoing, A TB vaccine is predicted to avert 2,100 rifampicin-resistant TB cases and 460 deaths due to rifampicin resistance over 15 years in Kenya.
Malaria caused 3,238 deaths and cost 261,389 DALYs in 2023 in Kenya, A malaria vaccine is still under evaluation for a nation-wide rollout and is now included in routine immunization in malaria-endemic regions.
In a prospective evaluation of infants who received the vaccine between 2019 and 2021, there was a 32% reduction in hospital admissions with severe malaria and 9% reduction in all cause mortality.
The Role of Vaccines in Controlling AMR includes Vaccines reduce infections by providing direct protection and promoting herd immunity.
Prevention of infections reduces the spread of drugresistant germs and the need for treatment with antibiotics.
Treating drug resistant infections is expensive, Vaccines reduce healthcare costs and prevent catastrophic expenses for families.
Further, top recommendations to leverage vaccines in the fight to control AMR in Kenya includes; Increase coverage of existing vaccines in the immunization schedule, including the newly introduced typhoid conjugate vaccine.
Include vaccines in insurance coverage and address gaps in affordability and accessibility.
Address vaccine hesitancy by engaging with community stakeholders and religious leaders and gaps in vaccine accessibility and distribution to achieve equitable health outcomes and strengthen AMR mitigation efforts.
