Impact: News and Resources
The News & Resources page is a space to explore up to date information about V4L projects, press releases, reports, latest videos and access helpful infographics.
Civil Society Action in NITAGS
The virtual dialogue, Civil Society Action in the Implementation of a Life-Course Approach to NITAGs, aimed to build consensus across the fields of ageing, patient advocacy, and vaccination on key actions to drive structural change in NITAGs so that patient voices inform policy recommendations. During the dialogue, participating civil society organizations (CSOs) across nine countries delved into their experiences in addressing challenges and barriers in vaccination policy in their country, engaging in NITAG decision-making, and participating in advocacy efforts to strengthen a life course approach within NITAGs…
Consensus Statement, Press Release
Driving Pneumococcal Vaccination Policy to Protect Older Canadians
As Canada’s ageing population grows, projected to exceed 11 million adults aged 65 and older by 2043, older adults face heightened risks from pneumococcal disease, a leading cause of severe infections and hospitalizations. Despite the proven effectiveness of pneumococcal vaccination, gaps in policy and program implementation significantly limit vaccine uptake among older adults, leaving them disproportionately affected by invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). Current immunization strategies frequently prioritize pediatric populations, overlooking the unique needs and epidemiological risks faced by older Canadians. The Driving Pneumococcal Vaccination Policy to Protect Older Canadians project, aims to close these gaps by advocating for evidence-based vaccination strategies, tailored policies, and improved access for older adults.
National Policy Brief, Ontario Policy Brief, Alberta Policy Brief, Quebec Policy Brief
IFA and EuGMS Statement of Action – Supporting a life course approach within National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAGs)
Vaccination is a crucial public health intervention, especially for older adults who are more vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) due to weakened immune systems and chronic conditions. Despite its benefits, vaccine uptake among older adults remains low due to various factors, including lack of inclusion in national immunization plans, inadequate infrastructure, insufficient data, and lack of healthcare provider training and patient education. Vaccination is a crucial public health intervention, especially for older adults who are more vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) due to weakened immune systems and chronic conditions. Despite its benefits, vaccine uptake among older adults remains low due to various factors, including lack of inclusion in national immunization plans, inadequate infrastructure, insufficient data, and lack of healthcare provider training and patient education…
Statement of Action
Raising awareness of RSV as part of your vaccine preventable respiratory diseases in Canada
August 1, 2024
Ageing organizations support NACI’s recommendations on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for older and at-risk adults in Canada The International Federation on Ageing (IFA), The Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP), The National Institute on Ageing (NIA) and Canada’s National Seniors’ Advocacy Organization (CanAge) are pleased to see the recent recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) regarding RSV prevention in Canada, which support protecting older and at-risk populations in Canada.
Press Release
Socio-Economic Value of Adult Immunisation Programmes
The Office of Health Economics (OHE) report “Socio-Economic Value of Adult Immunisation Programmes” highlights the substantial socio-economic benefits of adult immunisation programs. These programs can yield up to 19 times the investment by improving health outcomes, reducing healthcare costs, and enhancing societal productivity. The study underscores the importance of prioritizing adult vaccination to foster healthier communities and a more efficient healthcare system.
Click here to download the Full Report
Increasing Adult Immunization Strategies and Actions
Attend the virtual workshop Informing National Adult Immunization Strategies and Action in Germany and France. The overarching purpose of the workshop is to leverage the work of experts, organizations, and government at a national level in France and Germany to develop a targeted approach to immunization policy, in consideration of country-specific context, policies, programs and attitudes towards immunization.
Virtual Workshop
Advancing Immunization Through the Decade of Healthy Ageing
Advancing Immunization Through the Decade of Healthy Ageing is a report that shines a powerful light on the gaps in vaccination policies for older adults, as well as emerging opportunities. Through V4L’s work, immunization can be viewed as an opportunity to combat inequities, improve access to immunization, and promote health throughout life, including helping preserve function and prevent death and disability.
Click here to download the Full Report | Click here to download the Press Release
IFA launches their Shingles Atlas for Adult Vaccination (SAAV) advocacy tool to support gaps in shingles vaccination policy globally.
The International Federation on Ageing (IFA) is proud to announce the subsequent launch of the Shingles Atlas for Adult Vaccination (SAAV) advocacy tool during World Immunization Week, which was held between 24th of April to 30th of April 2024.
Click here to download the Press Release | Find out more about the SAAV Interactive World Map
Improving Canadian Adult Influenza Immunization Rates Through Knowledge and Action
In an effort to better understand the perceptions, awareness and knowledge of influenza as a vaccine-preventable disease, the importance of vaccination and the options available among older adults, the IFA has embarked upon the Improving Canadian Adult Influenza Immunization Rates Through Knowledge and Action Project! This project included key informant interviews and an on-line survey which gathered Canadians views on influenza vaccination practices and the vaccines available to older people. Using this information, the IFA has developed a number of awareness raising and educational resources to ensure that all Canadians have access to the important information they need in an appropriate and easy to use format…
Influenza brochure, fact sheet, social media toolkit
RSV: Raising awareness, driving prevention
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus and is often misunderstood to be only a childhood illness. However, older adults and those with chronic conditions constitute a large at-risk population for serious complications from RSVs, including lower respiratory illness. Every year, the RSV results in many older adults experiencing life-altering consequences, with estimates of 470,000 hospitalizations and 33,000 deaths in those aged 60 years and over in high-income countries, in 2019. Despite such staggering numbers and the growing evidence indicating that RSV may compare to influenza disease, there is a significant underestimation of the disease burden in older adults…
Podcast, Global Cafe, Visual Assets
Addressing Adult Immunisation Inequity and Improving the Uptake Rates of Adult Vaccination Among Older People
This exciting publication underscores the importance and urgency of ensuring equitable access to vaccinations for all older adults through the sustained and meaningful integration of a life course approach to immunization and highlights the IFA’s continued commitment to ensuring that the rights and choices of older adults are respected and protected.
The article illustrates the interrelated nature of NCDs and population ageing, highlighting key opportunities for synergistic action aligned with global agendas such as the WHO Immunization Agenda 2030, the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing and the WHO Global Report on Ageism…
Call to Action
The role of pharmacy in life-course vaccination
Vaccination is a highly effective and cost-efficient health intervention that not only keeps vaccinated individuals healthy but also improves the health of the entire population through direct and indirect impacts. Routine vaccination has helped control and eliminate several infectious diseases, preventing millions of deaths annually. Vaccination also reduces the burden on healthcare systems and curbs antimicrobial resistance. However, limited and inequitable access to vaccines in some countries, as well as vaccine misinformation and hesitancy, remain significant challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these access problems and strained health systems, highlighting the importance of proper information, and storage, handling and distribution of vaccines to ensure public confidence and trust in vaccination…
FIP Statement of Policy
Adult Vaccination Healthcare Providers Education ECHO Series
Despite the devastating impact of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) on individuals, societies, and nations, adult immunization as a pillar of healthy ageing is seldom prioritized. Emerging from a global pandemic, there is a critical need to connect interdisciplinary stakeholders, provide a platform for knowledge sharing, and empower healthcare providers (HCPs) to be educators and advocates of adult vaccination for their constituents.
With this in mind, the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) is proud to announce the Adult Vaccination Healthcare Providers Education ECHO, which aims to strengthen healthcare provider skills and competencies to promote and advocate for adult immunization. Building on previous programming and experience, IFA will harness the ECHOTM Model and its proven method of learning for this innovative program to educate and inform diverse healthcare providers on the important linkages between healthy ageing and the prevention of VPDs.
Learning opportunity, education
Presidential Symposium on Immunisation for all ages
The International Federation on Ageing (IFA) recently held its 16th Global Conference on Ageing entitled Challenge, Transformation, Change which aimed to influence and shape policy that improves the quality of life of current and future generations of older people. The IFA’s 16th Global Conference boldly focused on themes not often prioritized and actioned in policy dialogue, including Immunisation for All Ages as a key theme.
Executive Summary
Prioritisation of Vaccine Preventable Respiratory Diseases –2022
During 2022, through an advisory panel forum, Pfizer brought together experts in adult vaccination from across Europe to discuss the Prioritisation of Vaccine Preventable Respiratory Diseases.
During the sessions, members of the advisory panel discussed the opportunities and challenges to elevate adult vaccination, beyond COVID-19 and influenza, to other adult vaccines such as pneumococcal, with a particular focus on how best to support health system sustainability and resilience ahead of Winter 2022/23…
Call to Action
Driving Policy Change through the Targeted Accelerated Implementation of the Adult Vaccination Advocacy Toolkit (AVAT)
An expert meeting was held in Prague, Czech Republic to pilot-test the AVAT and ensure the feasibility of its implementation at a national level, while assessing components of the policy toolkit for its effectiveness in supporting adult vaccination advocacy. Through dialogue with discipline and sector-diverse experts, including those from long-term care and social service settings, geriatricians, and industry, this meeting resulted in multiple outputs and assets to build capacity for advocacy while providing examples of how the toolkit can be used to create resources for such initiatives.
Executive Summary
Burden of disease – A focus on acute respiratory viruses in older adults
Why should older adults be particularly careful of acute respiratory viruses? What are risk factors for adverse outcomes? Why is RSV typically under-diagnosed in adults compared with flu and what are some of the long-term impacts? Are older adults always more at risk in a pandemic? What do we mean by ageism and what needs to be done to counter it…
Podcast
Influencing Adult Pneumonia Vaccination Policy
“Influencing Adult Pneumonia Vaccination Policy” assessed pneumonia vaccination policy, public health messages and campaigns for at-risk adult groups and older people across nine European countries with the ultimate goal of improving uptake rates of pneumonia vaccination and decreasing the burden of pneumonia among high-risk adults…
Summary report, consensus statement, country-level reports
Improving vaccine confidence in the most vulnerable populations
Despite the historical triumph of vaccination, societal distrust in the importance, safety, and effectiveness of vaccination has resulted in lowered rates of vaccine confidence amongst populations, contributing to epidemiological shifts in the burden of vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs)…
Executive summary, consensus statement, message bank, press kit
Influenza stakeholder showcase
Vaccination against influenza (the flu) is the most impactful public health intervention that provinces, civil society organizations (CSOs), and individuals can support in order to protect older adults and immunocompromised individuals from poor outcomes following influenza infection…
Executive summary, consensus statement, policy brief, infographic, message bank, press kit
Adult pertussis vaccination
Given the rapid ageing of the world’s population and with the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing in motion, now is the time to prioritize and drive action towards the maintenance and improvement of the health and functional ability of older people. Life in later years can often be dominated by poor health, social isolation, and dependency on care which can have several significant negative consequences for older adults and society, adding further stress to an over-burdened health care system and decreasing the quality and years of life for older people around the world…
Technical report, infographic, message bank, press kit
Adult pneumonia vaccination in long-term care settings in Canada
The Mobilizing the advocacy of pneumococcal vaccination for older adults in long-term care settings in Canada initiative seeks to improve pneumococcal vaccination uptake amongst older adults and those with underlying chronic conditions in long-term care (LTC) settings in Canada. Based on the findings from the Driving the agenda of pneumococcal pneumonia vaccination in at-risk populations in community and long-term care project, there was a need to address low pneumococcal vaccination uptake rates amongst this population and the gaps in the lack of clear directives and policies for Canadian LTC settings…
Brochure, Factsheet, Technical report, consensus statement, Press release, Webinar
AV-HCP ECHO program learning series
The global ageing population is expected to increase from 9.4% in 2020 to 16% in 2050. In the context of healthy ageing and a life course approach to immunization, older persons are a rapidly growing population at risk for serious complications and death associated with infectious diseases. Parallel to the process of ageing is the increasing vulnerability to infectious diseases for those with noncommunicable diseases…
ECHO report, technical report, infographic, press kit
Adult vaccination advocacy toolkit (AVAT)
The Adult Vaccination Advocacy Toolkit responds to an urgent call from stakeholders and advocacy groups to influence and shape adult vaccination policy. The Toolkit is a collection of authoritative and adaptable resources designed around four key policy issues: vaccine pathways, expansion of the pool of vaccine administrators, effective targeted adult vaccination campaigns, and an environment that strives for vaccination equality…
Report, social media toolkit, webinars
Adult vaccination education program: Understanding (person) patient experiences ECHO
Vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among older people and those with chronic conditions who are at high-risk of serious complications from infection. Vaccination is one of the most effective public health interventions and a key component of healthy ageing. Despite clear evidence in support of the value of adult vaccination, the uptake rates remain suboptimal among older adults globally…
Modules, Hub members
Previous IFA News and resources
Are Influenza Vaccines Worth It?
This blog was based on the paper written by: Palache, Abraham. (2018). Internal Medicine Review. Global Seasonal Influenza Disease and Vaccination: A Paradox with Substantial...
Fighting the Flu through Targeted Awareness Campaigns – Expert Meeting
In the winter of 2017, Germany saw 82,000 cases of influenza, with a vaccination rate below 50% recorded in recent years.[1] Influenza vaccination is a critical yet underthought...
Adult Vaccination in the Asia Pacific: Mobilising Policy and Practice Knowledge Expert Meeting
Experts from the fields of ageing, infectious diseases, public health, medicine and nursing gathered in Singapore recently to discuss adult vaccination uptake in the Asia Pacific...
Live from New York: What’s Happening in Ageing at the United Nations in 2019?
The United Nations, founded in 1945, is currently made up of 193 Member States. You might ask “where does ageing fit into the UN’s mandate?” Actually, all of the issues...
Introducing the IFA Post-Conference Education Webinar Series
In 2018 the IFA held its largest global conference to date, convening over 1200 delegates. However, there are many more people who wanted to participate and were unable. As such,...
Prevention is the Best Medicine: The Importance of Immunization to the Health of Seniors
On Tuesday 27 November 2018, health care professionals, public health officials, stakeholders in ageing, immunization and lung conditions, and interested members of the public...
Man(ageing) Diabetes #WDD2018
What is Diabetes? Diabetes mellitus (diabetes) is one of the most common noncommunicable diseases globally and continues to increase in numbers and significance. Diabetes is a...
“Vaccination and the at-risk population of adults with heart and lung conditions” Expert Meeting, Stockholm, Sweden
“Vaccination and the at-risk population of adults with heart and lung conditions” was a recent IFA hosted meeting (11-12 October) in Sweden that brought together for the first...
Celebrating Older Human Rights Champions for #IDOP2018
A ‘champion’ is an individual that facilitates change – whether it’s organizational, institutional, or social – and is active throughout all the stages of change. The role of...
“Vaccinations and the At-risk Adult Population of Diabetes” Expert Meeting, Belfast, UK
From 6-7 September 2018, the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) convened a diverse group of 21 experts in the fields of public health, diabetes, ageing, immunology and...
An Economic Analysis of Flu Vaccination
The IFA welcomes guest blogger Mr David Sinclair, Director, ILC-UK New research by the International Longevity Centre – UK (ILC-UK) argues that Government should take into...
3 Common Misconceptions about the Flu Vaccine
Older people are at a higher risk of the flu than the general population due to a decline in immune system function as one ages; emphasizing the importance of vaccination in...
Pneumococcal disease is a leading cause of hospitalization and mortality in Canada. There is a high prevalence of this disease amongst populations that are most at-risk of serious complications from infection, such as older adults in long-term care settings.
The ‘Driving the agenda of pneumococcal pneumonia vaccination in at-risk populations in community and long-term care’ study was conducted to understand the status of existing public health policies and campaigns on pneumococcal disease in community and long-term care settings and its implications on the uptake of pneumococcal vaccination. The report highlights policy gaps for pneumococcal vaccination across long-term care settings in Canada and accordingly provides recommendations for policy improvements.
Pneumococcal disease is a leading cause of hospitalization and mortality in Canada. There is a high prevalence of this disease amongst populations that are most at-risk of serious complications from infection, such as older adults in long-term care settings. Check out the technical report to learn more.
27 April 2023, Toronto, ON – The International Federation on Ageing (IFA) is proud to release findings from a recent study entitled Driving the agenda of pneumococcal pneumonia vaccination in at-risk populations in community and long-term care. Check out the technical report to learn more.
IFA acknowledges support from GSK and Sanofi Pasteur for Vaccines4Life through unrestricted educational grants and is proud to be part of the Vaccines Safety Net (VSN) Database.
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