www.vaccines4life.com | 12 November 2020
The work of the World Coalition on Adult Vaccination is more important than ever before as global citizens and professionals fight against the consequences of COVID-19. We continue to help influence and shape immunization policies while serving as a point of connection to advocate for equitable access to safe, affordable and effective vaccines throughout the life course.
 
Through the sharing of evidence-based reports, position papers, assets from virtual meetings and educational resources, this Vaccines4Life Newsletter showcases innovative work that directly relates to improving uptake rates of adult immunization, specifically among older people and those with underlying chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart and lung diseases.
 
The International Federation on Ageing (IFA) recognizes and appreciates 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. 
World Pneumonia Day | Thursday 12 November 2020
This World Pneumonia Day, 12 November 2020, the World Coalition on Adult Vaccination calls on professional, patient and advocacy organizations, together with all levels of government to increase their investment in adult vaccinations against infectious respiratory diseases such as pneumococcal pneumonia, pertussis and influenza.
Join in advocating for pneumococcal pneumonia vaccination by downloading and sharing the images and text below, or preparing your own:
Among those 65 years and older, 90% of deaths from an infectious disease are linked to pneumonia. Join the World Coalition on Adult Vaccination and the IFA in calling for investment and education on pneumonia vaccination. https://bit.ly/34Ee8HW #Vaccines4Life #StopPneumonia #EveryBreathCounts
The World Coalition on Adult Vaccination call on professional, patient and advocacy organizations, together with all levels of government to increase their investment in adult vaccinations against infectious respiratory diseases such as pneumococcal pneumonia, pertussis and influenza. https://bit.ly/34Ee8HW #Vaccines4Life #StopPneumonia #EveryBreathCounts
“You can not separate vaccines, ageing, functional ability from each other,” says IFA Expert Dr. Mine Durusu-Tanriover. Watch as she explains why vaccines are a weapon in the fight for quality of life. https://youtu.be/y92CyOG5gY8 #Vaccines4Life #StopPneumonia #EveryBreathCounts
Recent studies have linked pneumonia to a decline in functional ability. Find out more in the latest statement from the World Coalition on Adult Vaccination and the IFA on pneumonia vaccination: https://bit.ly/34Ee8HW #Vaccines4Life #StopPneumonia #EveryBreathCounts

Upcoming Events
The IFA invites you to the first webinar in the series Building Global Momentum for Adult Vaccination Policy Within COVID-19 entitled "Protecting Progress in Accessing Adult Vaccination" which will be held on 10 December 2020, at 7:00am EST.

The webinar will feature speakers Ms Martha Rebour, Executive Director of Shot@Life, and Mr Lars-Åke Söderlund, President of the Community Pharmacy Section of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), and aims to improve the understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on the vaccination landscape throughout life with special attention to existing vaccines, and determine collective civil society actions to protect progress that has already been made in improving access to adult vaccination over the years.

This webinar series has been supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Pfizer.
Updates from the IFA
Dr. Jane Barratt Announced as CSO Representative
for ACT-Accelerator Vaccine Pillar (COVAX)

Dr. Jane Barratt, Secretary General of the International Federation on Ageing, has been announced as the Civil Society representative of Vaccine Strategy for the ACT-Accelerator Vaccine Pillar (COVAX), which aims to accelerate the development and access to quality, and affordable COVID19 diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines.
Vaccines4Life.com joins WHO Vaccine Safety Net

Vaccines4Life is thrilled to have joined the Vaccine Safety Net, a global network of websites, established by the World Health Organization, that provide reliable information on vaccine safety.
Improving Adult Influenza Vaccination in Canada:
Learning from International Good Practices

As part of a virtual meeting series entitled “Improving Adult Influenza Vaccination in Canada: Learning from International Good Practices” the IFA convened two expert meetings, held 30 September and 14 October 2020, to exchange knowledge on the challenges, core principles, and strategies that underpin a national immunization program in Canada, with specific attention to improving adult influenza vaccination rates. Recordings of these two meetings are available below.
IFA Joins the European Scientific Working Group on Influenza
as a Coalition Member

The IFA is excited to have joined the European Scientific Working Group on Influenza (ESWI) as a coalition member. The ESWI is a unique and effective organization to address influenza issues in Europe with the belief that experts must continuously explain the benefits of influenza control, prevention and treatment to the general public and be clear with the scientific uncertainties. ESWI coalition members share the objective to improve public health protection against influenza.
Immunization, Vaccines, Influenza & Pneumonia in the Age of COVID-19

Aging Better in Uncertain Times, a weekly podcast covering a myriad of health topics, premieres its first episode featuring Dr. Jane Barratt of the IFA on the topic of Immunization, Vaccines, Influenza & Pneumonia in the Age of COVID-19.
Changing the Conversation on Adult Influenza Vaccination is a series of investigations in 10 countries on the nature and delivery of public communication and messages around adult influenza vaccination. Findings show not only gaps in messages to targeted audiences but a worrying lack of interactive engagement, with many campaigns buried in websites rather than implementing outward-facing strategies.

Learn more about the IFA ‘Influenza Campaign Barometer’ and framework for effective adult influenza communication campaign along with the guidance provided for influential message design and dissemination. 
In celebrating the United Nations International Day of Older Persons on 1st October 2020, the IFA brought attention to the inequities and barriers to accessing vaccination in the most at-risk populations. We call upon ‘YOU’ (professionals, members of the World Coalition on Adult Vaccination, partners and collaborators, industry, interested organizations and advocates for change as well as all levels of government to pledge to end immunization inequity so that no one is left behind.
World Coalition on Adult Vaccination Member Updates
New Infographic Highlights Grandparents Roles as Either Primary Caregivers or Routinely Supporting Parents
It's National Family Caregiver Month! Did you know that grandparents are essential caregivers? About 1.3 million grandparents in the labor force are responsible for a grandchild living with them. This month is about self-care and de-stressing for grandparents and other relatives raising children. 

Staying up to date on vaccines for the flu, pneumonia and whooping cough is a form of self-care, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Generations United's new infographic shows that caregiving today requires taking care of yourself in order to be there for the children in your life. 

This infographic, Staying Healthy Across Generations: Vaccines are Essential for All Ages, is the latest resource released as part of Generations United's Valuing Vaccinations Across Generations campaign, an international effort aimed at promoting vaccines through a lifespan approach by providing tools and resource to encourage intergenerational conversations. 

Generations United launched the campaign in 2016. Learn more at bandAGEofhonor.org.
Vaccines Today Publishes Coalition's Pneumonia Plea
The joint statement on pneumonia by the World Coalition on Adult Vaccination received a boost in Europe after it was posted on Vaccines Today's website and social media channels. 

As well as highlighting the need to protect older people from pneumonia while COVID-19 continues to spread, the piece links to other articles and videos on this topic. 
Meanwhile, Vaccines Today has been dividing its attention between the need to sustain routine immunisation during the pandemic and the search for a COVID-19 vaccine. Recent articles have tackled questions regarding who should receive the first doses of coronavirus vaccines, and the surprising story of how Ebola vaccine research is helping accelerate COVID-19 research. 

Upcoming articles include an interview with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and a feature on the new COVAX facility for bringing coronavirus vaccines to low-resource countries. 
New Infographic on Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Adults
Are you interested in joining the Coalition? 
Visit the new Vaccines4Life website to submit an expression of interest.
Follow adult vaccination at the IFA