World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week – 18–24 November 2025
18–24 November is World Antimicrobial resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) – a global campaign to raise awareness about
resistance to medicines like antibiotics and how we can all play our part in protecting these vital medicines.
This year’s theme is:
“Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future.”
Antibiotics save lives, but they don’t work for every illness. Most coughs, colds, sore throats and fevers will get better without
antibiotics. Using antibiotics when they’re not needed means they may not work when we really do need them.
How you can help:
- Only use antibiotics if they are prescribed by an NHS healthcare professional
- Take them exactly as directed by your GP, nurse, dentist or pharmacist.
- Return any unused or expired antibiotics to your local pharmacy for safe disposal – never throw them away or flush them.
- Help prevent infections by washing your hands regularly, keeping up to date with vaccinations, and following good hygiene.
- Go to https://seriouslyresistant.com/ to find out more
- Don’t save or share leftover antibiotics.
Non-urgent advice: Help for Parents and Carers
If you’re looking after a child, it can be hard to know when they need medical help. The NHS West Yorkshire Healthier Together
website provides clear advice on:
– Caring for a child at home
– Symptoms to look out for
– When to speak to a pharmacist or GP, call NHS 111, or go to urgent care or A&E
website provides clear advice on:
– Caring for a child at home
– Symptoms to look out for
– When to speak to a pharmacist or GP, call NHS 111, or go to urgent care or A&E
By using antibiotics safely, we can protect our health today and keep antibiotics working for future generations.