Quezon City, Philippines — August 29, 2025. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is already claiming lives, and the global pipeline for new antibiotics is shrinking. Without urgent action, the Philippines risks running out of effective treatments. To confront this threat, the Ateneo Center for Research and Innovation (ACRI), in partnership with  IQVIA and supported by a project grant from the International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS) & the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) , convened a landmark roundtable at Novotel Manila Araneta City to ask: What role can vaccines play in the fight against AMR?

The event, “The Unseen Link: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Vaccination,” gathered experts from medicine, public health, government, academia, and industry. More than a forum for knowledge exchange, ACRI designed this roundtable to serve as a platform to unite efforts across sectors and push forward a shared agenda: advancing the value of vaccines as a critical tool to mitigate AMR in the Philippines. Through the discussions, participants affirmed a common ground: vaccines reduce the need for antibiotics and, in turn, slow resistance. But translating this evidence into practice in the Philippines means grappling with systemic, political, and cultural barriers.

Vaccines as a Frontline Defense

The scientific case was compelling. By preventing diseases like pneumonia, diarrhea, and influenza, vaccines directly reduce occasions for antibiotic use.

Dr. Joanne de Castro, President of the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines (PIDSP) explained:

“When we vaccinate, we reduce the frequency of these diseases. That means fewer antibiotics—used and misused—and that alone is a strong case for vaccines as an AMR strategy.”

Experts also stressed the importance of expanding immunization beyond children to cover the life course i.e.  adolescents, adults, and the elderly, amplifying the population-wide benefits.

Systemic Barriers: Data, Diagnostics, and Governance

Behind this strong scientific rationale lies a weak data foundation. Gaps in surveillance and diagnostics prevent policymakers from making informed investments.

• Surveillance gaps: Dr. Janis Macazo, Program Manager of the National Immunization Program (NIP), noted that data on pneumococcal serotypes remains insufficient, leaving leaders without the evidence to decide which vaccines would bring the greatest impact.
   
• Diagnostic barriers: Dr. Regina Berba of the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (PSMID) pointed out that even basic point-of-care test kits remain prohibitively expensive, keeping AMR data patchy and incomplete leading to inappropriate antibiotic use due to lack of diagnostic-driven antibiotic stewardship.
• Data silos: Immunization coverage and resistance surveillance sit in separate databases and departments, with limited interaction, minimal data sharing, and poor interoperability — leaving little room for meaningful epidemiological analysis on trends. As Dr. Juhani Capeding, Secretary-General of the Philippine Society for Public Health Physicians (PSPHP) observed:

“Interoperability is not a technical issue. It’s about governance. Agencies often don’t even know who owns the problem.”

Without stronger, shared data systems, the link between vaccines and AMR remains more theory than actionable strategy.

Politics and Policy Realities

Even with sound science and stronger data, progress ultimately depends on politics. Dr. Fatima Gimenez, Chair of the Immunization Committee of the Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS), put it plainly: 

“We cannot avoid politics—it will always shape what we do.” 

Dr. Juhani Capeding expanded on this, arguing that advocates must not only recognize political actors but actively engage with them. He noted that during the Dengvaxia controversy, opposition groups were effective because they had allies with strong media and political connections. By contrast, the Reproductive Health Bill passed despite years of resistance because persistent champions pushed it through. 

The lesson, he stressed, is that evidence alone will not move policy. Advocates must deliberately seek out and work with politicians or individuals who have influence, connections, and the flexibility to heed the call for reform. As he put it, “success requires learning from opponents’ tactics and building coalitions with allies who can carry the agenda forward inside the political arena”.

Culture, Communication, and Resources

On the ground, success often depends less on medical evidence than on trust. For instance, in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), vaccine uptake has been low, underscoring the need to work with credible local figures. As Dr. Joanne de Castro stressed:

“The next step is to talk to the imam.”

Religious leaders, barangay [town] health workers, and other long-serving community members are often the first and most trusted sources of guidance. Their involvement can determine whether vaccination programs gain traction or falter.

But trust alone is not enough—it must be paired with clear, consistent communication. As Dr. Karl Henson, Research Faculty of the University of the Philippines - National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH), cautioned:

“Science communication will matter. The way we tell the story of vaccines and AMR can drive—or derail—a movement.”

Participants emphasized that messages must be adapted to local contexts and carried by voices communities already rely on. And even the strongest communication strategies will falter without resources to back them.

Local governments juggle competing priorities, and vaccines often lose out to more immediate needs. As one participant put it:

“It boils down to the budget. It wouldn’t move without a budget.”

Industry leaders echoed this concern. Mr. Richard Simon R. Binos, Health Systems and Market Access Manager of the Pharmaceutical Association of the Philippines (PhAP), argued that procurement practices themselves need reform:

“If we commit to multi-year procurement, volumes go up and prices come down. Long-term contracts make vaccines more affordable.”

He stressed, financing is not just about more money—it’s about smarter, longer-term commitments.

This discussion underscores that health strategies will only succeed if they are rooted in culture, reinforced by credible communication, and backed by sustainable financing.

From Consensus to Commitment

Though the earlier part of the day covered the hurdles in linking the vaccines and AMR agenda, the second part involved group work to prioritize strategies for advancing this shared goal of tackling the burden of antimicrobial resistance using vaccines as tools. The roundtable ended with a shared sense of direction. Participants called for stronger surveillance and data-sharing systems to link immunization coverage with AMR trends, as well as for clear policy briefs that translate science into actionable guidance for decision-makers.

Yet the implications of this work extend far beyond the Philippines’ borders. Dr. Jyoti Joshi, Senior Science Advisor at ICARS, emphasized that while vaccination programs are well established in many low- and middle-income countries, National AMR Action Plans are only beginning to be implemented in these settings. “No country in the Global South has yet shown how vaccines can be systematically integrated into AMR strategies,” she noted. “The Philippines can lead the way and become a model for others.”

This international dimension adds urgency to the domestic challenges ahead. Translating consensus into action will require collaboration among all stakeholders—whether in government, the private sector, research, or academia. This must be translated into strategic coalitions: advocating with political leaders and policymakers who can drive the agenda, allocating funding, and simultaneously empowering local champions such as health workers and religious leaders who shape community trust. Communication must be consistent, culturally grounded, and sustained at every level.

Financing, too, cannot be an afterthought. Progress will depend on collaboration not only with the national but also with local government units, reforms in procurement practices, and expanding mechanisms like PhilHealth to make vaccination across all life stages feasible.

Above all, the roundtable affirmed that no single stakeholder can solve AMR. Government leadership is essential, but so is industry support, academic expertise, and grassroots engagement. As vaccination veteran and President of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination (PFV), Dr. Lulu Bravo, concluded:
“The government cannot do it alone. Collaboration and commitment across sectors are what will truly make vaccines a weapon against AMR.”

The science is clear: vaccines are a frontline defense against AMR. What remains is the hard work of translating consensus into collective action at the field level and building evidence—especially for LMICs like the Philippines, where the AMR burden is higher and health resources are stretched thin.