IFA and ILC-UK joint statement on proposed changes to UK childhood pneumococcal immunisation programme

In October 2017, the British Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) proposed that childhood vaccination for pneumococcal disease be moved from a 2+1 schedule (two initial doses and a follow-up dose) to a 1+1 schedule (one initial dose and a follow-up).

As the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) and the International Longevity Centre – UK (ILC-UK) are both organizations dedicated to the wellbeing of the global ageing population, and having both conducted significant work on the burden of pneumococcal disease across the lifecourse, there is concern that – per the JCVI’s reports – “moving to a 1+1 schedule might increase IPD cases in infants because of loss of direct protection, and in older adults because of a reduction in herd immunity as a result of less protection against carriage in infants after a single dose.”

Given the potential risks of this decision, the IFA and the ILC-UK urge a more comprehensive consultation on proposed changes to the pneumococcal immunisation programme. IFA’s Secretary General, Dr Jane Barratt, and ILC-UK’s Director, David Sinclair have released a joint statement on the proposed recommendations from JCVI.

Click here to read the full statement.

Pneumonia Vaccination in LTC settings in Canada Banner

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.

Download the Technical report

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.