Our Vision
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.
Our News
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 joins World Health Organization’s 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 provides reliable information on vaccine safety. Find out more at https://www.vaccinesafetynet.org/
Sign the Pledge to End Immunization Inequity
The pledge to End Immunization Inequity aligns with the principle of the WHO Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) to “Leave no one behind” and supports the strategic objectives for the Decade of Healthy Ageing to improve the lives of older people, their families and their communities.
Our Experts
Do Vaccines Really Bring All Older Adults Closer?
As populations age, chronic health conditions such as diabetes, lung and heart disease prevail and leave many older adults at risk for serious complications from vaccine preventable diseases such as influenza, pneumococcal pneumonia, pertussis and shingles. Vaccination throughout life signifies a life course approach to not only immunisation but also to healthy ageing. Intergovernmental agendas such as the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing and the WHO Immunization Agenda 2030 call on governments to implement comprehensive public health programs including immunisation to save lives and maintain functional ability. ‘Vaccines bring us closer’ was the 2021 theme for World Immunization Week, highlighting the value of immunizations beyond the COVID-19 agenda. Awareness of the serious consequences of infectious diseases is often a barrier to population coverage. A recent article written by Sofiat Akinola, Chris Hardesty, and Ada Wong shines light on the severely low adult immunization rates across the Asia Pacific as a result of poor awareness compared to the rates in the United States and the United Kingdom. While it is useful to consider rates in other countries, work by the International Federation on Ageing is cautious in benchmarking and comparison because not only are the health systems vastly different, as are cultural influences. Akinola et al stressed the need for clear and transparent communication on the effectiveness and benefits of vaccination to an ageing population, and this was seen to be insufficient and inconsistent. The recent expert discussion conducted by Sanofi and KPMG in the Asia-Pacific region, with the support of World Economic Forum, showed that many older adults faced uncertainties and a lack of knowledge on the efficacy of vaccination as a key component of healthy ageing. Three pillars were identified to drive sustainable action towards equitable life course immunization: 1. Adult immunization being integrated into national immunization strategies and healthy ageing policies, and regularly reviewed through robust data collection efforts. 2. Targeted and consistent communication strategies that reach those who are currently marginalized and often invisible. 3. Ensuring that nations are able to implement novel models of sustainable healthcare funding beyond the reliance of income taxes. In order to ensure vaccines do bring us closer across the globe, collaborative action that recognizes the pressing barriers faced in developing regions is vital to increasing uptake rates. Aligned with the Decade of Healthy Ageing (2020-2030) and the WHO Immunisation Agenda 2030, the IFA’s Vaccines4Life Program envisions a world in which vaccination throughout life is a pillar to healthy ageing, recognized through appropriate governmental investment in prevention and promotion. Follow the #Vaccine4Life platform to learn more about the upcoming project on Ending Immunization Inequity which will provide findings on the significant inequities that contribute to low uptake rates, and sign the pledge to engage in this movement. To connect with an expert on this topic, engage with Dr Tam Yat-Hung, Honorary Clinical Assistant Professor at The University of Hong Kong. His practice is mainly focused on epidemiological investigation of disease outbreak and implementation of control and preventive measures with expertise in public health education.
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Forgetting Adult Immunization During Covid-19
Every day the COVID-19 pandemic continues to bring on new economic, social and health challenges for all members and especially those most at risk to severe consequences including older persons and those with chronic health conditions. Significant impacts have also been experienced in regular routine health care services including increasingly longer wait times, fear of in-person checkups, and a decline in routine immunizations such as influenza, pneumococcal pneumonia, measles, and shingles. The stark decline in routine adult immunizations as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic may not only impose serious implications to vulnerable groups at risk to life altering diseases but also to the health and safety of the general population. In a recent article published through the BioPharma- Reporter, Dr. Friedland, vice president, director scientific affairs and public health at GSK stresses attention to the decline in adult immunizations that may exacerbate serious strains on public health through increased exposure to non-COVID infectious diseases. Furthermore, Dr. Friedland points out that although there are a variety of barriers ‘in more normal times’ that can explain low adult vaccination rates including fear of adverse side effects and vaccine hesitancy, the pandemic has disrupted the vaccination pathway for routine vaccines. There is sustained need to increase knowledge and awareness of the safety, effectiveness and value of routine adult immunizations through the involvement of civil society advocates and public health experts. The International Federation on Ageing, through it is Vaccines4Life platform prioritizes bringing awareness on the safety and effectiveness of adult vaccinations to address vaccine hesitancy, build trust and improve equity among the most at risk groups including older adults. To learn more, check out the resources produced through IFA’s ’60 Second Fact Check: Vaccine Safety for Older Adults’ campaign. To engage in this campaign, contact Ms. Petek Yurt (pyurt@ifa.ngo). On 9 November, the IFA 15th Global Conference on Ageing will be hosting the first in person and virtual conference entitled ‘Rights Matter’ which aims to build global collective action to fight for the rights of older adults, under the four pillars aligned with the UN Decade of Ageing and WHO Immunization Agenda 2030: ageism, age-friendly cities and communities, primary health care, and long-term care alongside older people and pandemics. Delegates have the unique opportunity to engage, network, and learn from diverse experts from all around the world. To learn more and connect with an expert on this topic, contact Dr. Palle Valentiner-Branth, the Head of Vaccine-Preventable Disease Group of the Statens Serum Institute. He serves as the National Focal Point for vaccine preventable diseases in the European Center of Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and is the author/co-author of more than 70 peer reviewed publications with extensive research experience in vaccinology and infectious disease epidemiology.
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Access to adult vaccination for older people in remote, rural and hard-to-reach communities
The United Nations (UN) has previously stressed the risk of COVID-19 for indigenous communities since they are among the most vulnerable, with higher rates of communicable and non-communicable diseases, poorer sanitation and inadequate access to healthcare. Additionally, indigenous peoples often experience stigma and discrimination in healthcare settings and distrust in government, resulting in difficulty with COVID-19 management and vaccine delivery.According to a recent report by the Thomas Reuters Foundation, Brazilian indigenous communities have been particularly devastated by COVID-19, with nearly a thousand deaths within this population due to the pandemic. Many of those who died were indigenous elders, over the age of 60. Like many indigenous peoples, elders transmit traditional knowledge, practices and languages to future generations. For Brazil’s indigenous communities, the loss of elders represents the death of traditions, culture and knowledge. COVID-19 destroyed a “library” of knowledge and identity held by community elders. As COVID-19 vaccination is well underway in many countries, it is important that the principles of prevention, access and equity are upheld throughout the rollout of vaccination strategies. These principles are detailed in the Immunization Agenda 2030, which outlines a global strategy to ensure equitable and community-centred delivery of immunization services to ensure good health and well-being for everyone. Exercising these principles means ensuring that hard-to-reach and vulnerable communities have access to vaccines and contextually appropriate information on vaccine preventable diseases. COVID-19 vaccination of remote and hard-to-reach populations is an opportunity to bolster adult immunization strategies, expand immunization infrastructure and establish adult vaccination policy for other vaccine preventable diseases, such as influenza, pneumonia and shingles. Implementation of vaccination policy for older people may help preserve the culture and traditions of communities, allowing libraries to remain intact longer.In Brazil, COVID-19 vaccination of indigenous communities is a priority, however some older people in the community oppose the vaccine. Glades Kokama, a leader of the Kokama indigenous community in the Amazon region, says, “Some (elders) believe in the vaccine, but some don’t. We try to explain it to them, but we have to respect our elders.” Combating vaccine hesitancy amongst older people is needed to improve healthy ageing through vaccination. It is important that communication is targeted and specific to the population context and needs. For indigenous and hard-to-reach communities, distribution of information and promotion of vaccination requires partnership with community leaders and culturally appropriate messaging.The International Federation on Ageing (IFA) is committed to addressing barriers to adult vaccination for older people by expanding knowledge and access to vaccination, and improving vaccination messaging. The 15th Global Conference on Ageing entitled “Rights Matter” provides a global platform to inspire, enquire, learn and advocate for immunization policies and practices that create an environment that enables older people to do what they value. Visit the conference website to learn about the pre-conference Vaccines 4 Life Summit “Beyond the Pandemic: Driving Policy to Improve Adult Immunization Rates” and the Presidential Symposium on Adult Vaccination “Together Towards Tomorrow: Post-pandemic Action on Adult Vaccination”. To learn more about adult vaccination for older people and combating vaccine hesitancy, contact these experts. • Lois Privor-Dumm, Director of Adult Vaccines, Senior Advisor, Policy Advocacy and Communications at the International Vaccine Access Center • Dr. José F. Parodi, Professor of Geriatrics and Public Health in the Faculty of Human Medicine at the Universidad de San Martin de Porres of Peru (FMH-USMP) and Director of Center for Ageing Research – CIEN of the FMH-USMP. • Dr. Holly Seale, Associate Professor at the School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales.
Read MoreReports and Statements
Wise Words
Protecting Progress of Vaccination Throughout Life
April 24 is World Meningitis Day, and on this day, the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) together with the Confederation of Meningitis Organisations (CoMO) and Immunize Canada want to remind you that meningococcal disease is a health risk you should not take.
Working Together to Defeat Invasive Meningococcal Disease
April 24 is World Meningitis Day, and on this day, the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) together with the Confederation of Meningitis Organisations (CoMO) and Immunize Canada want to remind you that meningococcal disease is a health risk you should not take.
Flu and YOU… Your evaluation skills are needed! Please read!
You know how one side of your nose gets blocked up worse than the other when you have a bad cold? Well there IS a reason – or so I have just discovered. Did you know that we have a nasal cycle?
Join the World Coalition
Health promotion and disease prevention in later stages of life are necessary to a healthy ageing population but require combating ageist attitudes, beliefs and practices of society, healthcare providers and the broader policy environment.
IFA acknowledges support from GSK and Sanofi Pasteur for Vaccines4Life through unrestricted educational grants.
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