The accelerated momentum around vaccine development and promotion during the COVID-19 pandemic presents an unparalleled opportunity to bring attention to the needs and values of the world's vulnerable populations. Equitable access to safe, affordable and effective vaccines for all ages is more important than ever.
The
World Coalition on Adult Vaccination
is a platform for connecting thought leaders from across sectors and disciplines to share evidence-based good practices, policies and innovations in the field to position and invest in vaccination throughout life.
Especially during these unprecedented global challenges, the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) is grateful for the contribution of Coalition members in this edition of the Vaccines4Life Newsletter. We at IFA are encouraged by the concerted focus and solidarity around strengthening immunization policies, most critically adult vaccinations.
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For World Immunization Week 2020, IFA was delighted to launch the knowledge mobilization platform known as Vaccines4Life (V4L).
Aligned with the WHO Decade of Healthy Ageing (2020-2030) and the WHO Immunization Agenda 2030, the V4L Program envisions a world of healthy older people whose rights to safe and appropriate vaccines are protected and respected through programs that hold high the principles of prevention, access and equity.
IFA is a leading policy voice in the drive to increase the uptake rates of adult vaccination by helping to build national and international capacity to influence and shape the call for increased governmental investment in public health prevention, raising awareness of vaccinator pathways, and being an advocate for parity and equity across the life course.
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The 15
th
Global Conference on Ageing "Rights Matter" has been rescheduled to 3-5 March 2021. Two premier events on vaccination will highlight groundbreaking work while debating some of the most vexed issues of our times.
The
full-day
Vaccine4Life
Summit
on
2 March 2021
aims to inform the global agenda on a life course approach to vaccination, by bringing together global leaders in
immunization, ageing, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and digital media, as well as civil society advocates, health care professionals, policymakers and ageing experts.
The
Presidential Symposium
on
3 March 2021
entitled "The Social and Economic Value of Adult Vaccination: Why Prevention is Wealth" features thought leaders that will shed light on the multidimensional value of adult vaccination on the health and functional ability of older people.
Be inspired to join the call to action for "vaccination throughout life" and learn from global leaders on strategic communications, building the social and economic case for investment, and the role of educators and vaccinators.
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Dr. Jane Barratt, IFA Secretary General
Live on The Antigen Podcast
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IFA Blog: World Meningitis Day, 24 April 2020
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Despite popular misconceptions, meningitis can affect people of all age groups, even older adults. In fact, invasive meningococcal disease health outcomes in older adults can be devastating.
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Vaccination in France:
Changing the Public Perception
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The effective reach of professional, patient and advocacy organizations with their local constituents is essential to addressing vaccine hesitancy and improving vaccination uptake rates on a national scale. Continued cross-sectoral engagement is key to producing a cohesive voice that supports improvements to vaccination perceptions and practices, including enhanced awareness and education of the importance of life course vaccination.
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IFA COVID-19 Resource Library
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COVID-19 has brought with it many unprecedented challenges, particularly regarding the impacts on older people. Now is the time for knowledge and experience sharing in the fight to protect and respect the rights of older people around the world.
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World Immunization Week Videos
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As part of IFA's World Immunization Week preparations, IFA launched three new videos focused on a life course approach to vaccination:
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World Coalition on Adult Vaccination Member Updates
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Healthier Together
The current COVID-19 health crisis is a reminder that there are vaccines available to combat other illnesses and protect people of all ages. That’s according to a February 12, 2020
Medium
blog co-authored by
Donna Butts
, Executive Director of Generations United, and
Sister Edna Lonergan
, Founder of St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care.
The piece highlights Generations United’s new infographic for grandparents and our vaccine discussion guide—both from our
Valuing Vaccinations Across Generations Campaign
*—as well as St. Ann Center’s intergenerational programs.
During the current coronavirus quarantine, older adults and people with compromised immune systems are asked to isolate themselves and not have contact with children and young people.
This isn’t possible for the 2.5 million grandparents and other relatives who are full-time caregivers for children. Like the nurses, doctors and other first responders, grandparents are the first line of defense for the children in their care.
In these and other intergenerational circumstances, vaccines across the lifespan are necessary to help keep what we call our “bookend generations” healthy.
Read the blog
.
*
Valuing Vaccinations Across Generations
is a campaign that
Generations United
launched in 2016 with
The Gerontological Society of America
and the
American Academy of Pediatrics
.
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As the impact of the pandemic unfolds at a rapid pace, we are deeply saddened by the lives lost and those who are suffering. Healthcare workers around the world have shown us the true face of courage.
During this crucial time in public health, we cannot afford to lose the gains that have been made in disease prevention through vaccination. As COVID-19 makes its way around the globe, every effort must be made to protect vulnerable children and families from the diseases that we can prevent. Optimizing health through vaccination is imperative for the individual, community, and overwhelmed healthcare systems with limited resources.
We are taking steps to ensure that the critical work we are doing continues during this unprecedented time, including the allocation of additional funds to the region to be used for routine, and if need be, emergency vaccines. Our partners at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) have reported no disruptions or delays in vaccine delivery thus far. The PAHO Revolving Fund for Vaccine Procurement is monitoring the situation closely for the potential for disruption of shipments.
As we continue to make adjustments to our daily lives to ensure the safety and well-being of ourselves and each other, this pandemic serves to remind us of how interconnected we are and how the health of one affects the health of all.
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Wanted: Coronavirus Vaccines
The most popular topic on the
Vaccines Today
website and social media channels this year has been COVID-19 – a disease for which, ironically, there is no vaccine. An article on the
search for a coronavirus vaccine
was first published in February and continues to attract considerable attention as the world waits for a solution to the ongoing pandemic.
Alas, as the article explains, vaccine development takes time and most experts believe it will be 18 months before a vaccine is tested, approved and manufactured at the required scale. This video explaining the process has been widely shared on social media since the coronavirus pandemic began:
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Other hot topics in recent weeks include the
story of a Finnish gaming company
which has added a new character to
Antidote
, its popular health education game. The new character, not surprisingly, is named ‘Coronavirus’.
On a separate, but somewhat related note,
a look at flu vaccine uptake
in older people in Europe has also attracted attention. EU Health Ministers set a target of vaccinating 75% of people aged 65 and older. First agreed in 2009, the article examines whether countries have kept their promise after 10 years of trying. Spoiler alert:
none of them have
. Will this change next season as people think harder about avoiding ill-health and hospitalisation? Time will tell.
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The Dutch Influenza Foundation (NIS) aims to contribute to the prevention and reduction of influenza-associated disease. It advocates implementation of evidence-based national recommendations for immunization with the flu shot by engaging stakeholders, risk groups, researchers and through (social) media communication.
Since the beginning of this century vaccination coverage rates for influenza have dropped from 75% to 51% in the at-risk population. The vaccination organization, based on a perfect registration of risk factors in general practice, is still in place and can easily be transformed for any other disease. Whenever a COVID-19 vaccine is ready for distribution, the implementation can be fast. Until then, the NIS will promote influenza vaccination even harder, in order to prevent infection. In case of coexistence of both epidemics, this will at least reduce influenza cases.
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Dengue Task Force for Latin America
2019 was a record year for the dengue fever in Latin America (LA). The mosquito-borne disease surged across the continent, reaching the highest number of cases reported, with over 3 million cases including 28,169 cases and 1,538 deaths. This represents a 13% increase from the previous record in 2015. The outbreak has continued into 2020, with more than 7 times as many reports in the first period of 2020 than in the same period in 2019.
[1]
Given the increase in prevalence and the serious health and economic burden that dengue represents for the Region, countries must strengthen their armaments against the disease. Vaccination should be considered part of an integrated dengue prevention and control strategy along with other measures such as well-executed and sustained surveillance and vector control programs.
In response to this mounting public health threat, the AHF will establish a Dengue Task Force comprised of physicians specialized in the management of dengue, KOLs, and representatives of the Expanded Program on Immunization of the Ministries of Health in LA with the aim of promoting awareness, increasing medical knowledge, and supporting the development and strengthening of vaccination policies for the introduction of a new dengue vaccine to the Region.
[1]
Epidemiological Update Dengue 7 February 2020. Paho.org. https://bit.ly/3bsgpql. Published 2020. Accessed April 10, 2020.
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The International Longevity Centre - UK is pleased to share two recently published reports below on the value of investing in preventive healthcare initiatives such as life course vaccination, particularly with respect to influenza.
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World Coalition on Adult Vaccination Welcomes New Members
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Are you interested in joining the Coalition?
Visit the new Vaccines4Life website to submit an expression of interest.
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Follow adult vaccination at the IFA
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