Principal Investigator:
Professor Rogier van Doorn
Funder:
One Health Trust
Duration:
1 year
Methods:
Literature review, regulations review and expert consultations
The Global Antibiotic Resistance Partnership (GARP) was initiated in 2009 by One Health Trust, formerly known as the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy (CDDEP). GARP is a global initiative with significant impact, supporting low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in developing locally driven national strategies and policies to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The second phase of the GARP initiative (GARP-2) aims to summarise cross-disciplinary evidence on the impact of vaccination on AMR within country-specific contexts. In Vietnam, the project is being implemented through a collaboration between the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) and the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases (NHTD).
Vaccines play a crucial role in AMR mitigation by preventing infections and reducing antibiotic use. Although recognised by WHO as a key AMR strategy, vaccination is not yet integrated into Vietnam’s AMR policies, highlighting the need for stronger policy alignment.
The project aims to summarise evidence on human vaccines and their potential to mitigate antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Vietnam, and to inform policy stakeholders to support the integration of vaccines into national AMR mitigation strategies
At the outset of the GARP-2 project, an Advisory Board was established, comprising 12 members who are leading experts in infectious diseases, vaccines, and antimicrobial resistance in Vietnam.
Purpose: The Advisory Board provides consultation throughout the research process and on the project’s findings.
On September 28, 2023, the project team hosted a webinar as the first meeting of the Advisory Board.
During the meeting, the team presented an overview of the GARP project’s history and shared research findings on the value of vaccines in mitigating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Vietnam. Advisory Board members also engaged in a discussion on the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in Vietnam, focusing on its achievements, challenges, and future roadmap, as well as the role of vaccines within the National Strategy on AMR.
The GARP-2 face-to-face workshop, titled “The Value of Vaccines in Mitigating Antimicrobial Resistance in Vietnam”, was held on May 23, 2024. The event was a collaborative effort between the GARP project team and the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases (NHTD).
The event brought together a wide array of experts and stakeholders to discuss the inclusion of vaccines as a tool to mitigate antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the implementation of Vietnam’s National Strategy on AMR, and to discuss recommendations for a policy brief based on review of the current evidence.
Experts from various national and international organisations, including the World Health Organization in Vietnam, the General Department of Preventive Medicine (Vietnamese Ministry of Health), the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, shared their valuable insights during the workshop.
Four preliminary policy recommendations were presented and will undergo further refinement, including additional consultations with experts, before being finalised.
The outcome of the project will be a policy brief summarising evidence on the role of human vaccines in mitigating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Vietnam. The policy brief is currently in its final revision stage, incorporating feedback from expert consultations during the webinar and workshop. Once completed, it will be distributed to policymakers and widely shared with relevant stakeholders to support the effective implementation of Vietnam’s National Strategy on AMR in the near future.
