Mobilizing Vaccination Policy in Long-term Care Settings Expert Meeting
Despite several calls for reform to vaccination in long-term care (LTC), and increased attention from governments during the pandemic, concrete policy to support immunization in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) remains sparse, fragmented and largely absent.
An expert meeting was convened by the IFA in Brussels, Belgium on 25 March 2024, alongside global expert delegates to deliberate on actions required to improve LTC vaccination policy. The resulting consensus statement and accompanying recommendations are supported by the roundtable discussions from this meeting. Collectively with delegates, critical policy gaps were addressed and examined to promote joint action for advancing LTC vaccination and to advocate for LTCF residents’ rights to comprehensive health and social services.

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.
