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Vaccine preventable diseases such as influenza, pneumococcal pneumonia, and pertussis can be deadly for at-risk populations, including older people and those with chronic health conditions.  However, the voices of Canadian seniors with regard to experienced barriers to adult vaccination are largely missing from the national discourse and immunization policy.

The study Bringing the Voices of Canadian Seniors Together in the Fight Against Influenza collected real world evidence of barriers to influenza vaccination faced by Canadian older persons. The project aims to help build the capacity of patient and seniors’ organizations to improve influenza vaccination coverage.

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Vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD) are responsible for a significant portion of mortality across the life course in both low-income countries and in medium- and high-income countries. Yet, countries are consistently below the adult influenza vaccination targets, with rates in recent times even falling in some areas.

The study Towards Ending Immunization Inequity seeks to understand the various factors that contribute to the accessibility and effectiveness of vaccine- related messages and campaigns including the effects of social determinants, with the knowledge that these opportunities for communication represent a unique policy lever to improving uptake rates of vaccination in the most at-risk communities.

Vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD) are responsible for a significant portion of mortality across the life course in both low-income countries and in medium- and high-income countries. Yet, countries are consistently below the adult influenza vaccination targets, with rates in recent times even falling in some areas.

The study Towards Ending Immunization Inequity seeks to understand the various factors that contribute to the accessibility and effectiveness of vaccine- related messages and campaigns including the effects of social determinants, with the knowledge that these opportunities for communication represent a unique policy lever to improving uptake rates of vaccination in the most at-risk communities.

The Immunisation for All Ages (IFAA) initiative is working to combat inequity and improve access to immunisation to help promote health throughout life, to preserve function and to help prevent death and disability. To achieve this, efforts in support of a life course approach to immunisation must be strengthened through strategic alignment with international health agendas.

Studies show that these false messages are often liked and shared more than accurate messages and as such falsehoods surrounding vaccinations spread faster than truthful statements. Healthcare professionals play a key role in providing accurate information about vaccines and countering false narratives both in day-to-day interactions with patients and through their activity on social media.

This Social Media Toolkit for Healthcare Professionals is developed by Excellence in Pediatrics through the Vaccines Together Project.

IFA report compiling findings from a two-stage project specific to Germany including an environmental scan of information and messages conveyed by a sample of advocacy and patient organizations as well as government, and in-depth interviews and questionnaires with decision-makers of specific seniors, patient and professional organizations to gain a clearer understanding of the organizational perspectives towards adult influenza vaccination.

This report calls on key decision makers of Canadian Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to identify through a series of interviews reasons behind the poor prioritization of adult influenza vaccination.  Despite the differences in mandates, general consensus across participating organizations was that a collaborative effort would be needed to improve adult vaccination uptake and influence change.

Consensus statement resulting from the IFA-led expert meeting “Mobilizing Patient Groups to Change Vaccine Policy” focused on actions that must be taken in the EU by civil society to improve adult vaccination rates.

This position paper is an outcome of a three-part virtual meeting series entitled “Improving Adult Influenza Vaccination in Canada: Learning from International Good Practices” and held between September to November 2020, wherein health professionals and experts in immunization, public health, ageing, and patient advocacy exchanged knowledge on the challenges, core principles, and strategies that underpin a national influenza immunization program in Canada.

French version –
A consensus statement from the IFA-led Expert Meeting held 20 October 2020.

Recordings and resources from the webinar series Changing the Conversation on Adult Vaccination

The burden of pneumonia is largely underestimated in Canada for its serious consequences on at-risk Canadians including older people, which contributes in part to alarmingly low adult vaccination rates.  This expert meeting report explores core challenges to improving adult pneumonia vaccination rates within Canada, and provides recommendations for immediate action.

World Health Organization guidance on infection prevention and control guidance for long-term care facilities in the context of COVID-19.

Misinformation threatens the success of vaccination programs across the world. Unicef, First Draft, Yale Institute for Global Health, and PGP (The Public Good Projects) have partnered to create the Vaccine Misinformation Management Field Guide. This guide aims to help organizations to address the global infodemic through the development of strategic and well-coordinated national action plans to rapidly counter vaccine misinformation and build demand for vaccination that are informed by social listening.

A consensus statement from the IFA-led Expert Meeting held 20 October 2020.

Recordings and resources from the webinar series Building Global Momentum for Adult Vaccination Policy Within COVID-19.

A resource for Canadians to find an extensive list of clinics offering immunizations across the country, along with reliable information about a wide range of vaccinations

A consensus statement based off of the Changing the Conversation on Adult Influenza Vaccination Expert Meeting.

This report is the first component of “Changing the Conversation on Adult Influenza Vaccination” and describes the findings of a ten country environmental scan of public health messages pertaining to influenza vaccination from governmental, and patient and advocacy organizations.

In this premiere episode of Aging Better in Uncertain Times, Immunization, Vaccines, Influenza & Pneumonia in the Age of COVID-19 features Dr. Jane Barratt of the International Federation on Ageing.

La World Coalition on Adult Vaccination demande aux professionnels, aux organismes de défense des droits des patients et à tous les ordres de gouvernement d’accroître leurs efforts d’éducation et d’exhorter les adultes plus âgés et les personnes souffrant de maladies chroniques à se faire vacciner contre la grippe et la pneumonie à pneumocoque.

In this joint statement, the World Coalition on Adult Vaccination calls on increased investment in educating and encouraging older adults and those with chronic diseases to be vaccinated against influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia.

This document, from the Asociacion Colombiana de Gerontologia y Geriatria outlines the effectiveness and safety of the influenza vaccine and impacts of COVID-19.

The amount of misinformation about vaccines circulating on the Internet in recent years has generated a worrying level of hesitancy or outright opposition to the use of vaccines by growing anti-vaccination groups in many countries. This has been associated with the return or increase of diseases such as measles and whooping cough. Pharmacists play a critical role in building confidence in vaccines and providing evidence-based advice.

A cocirculation of SARS CoV2 and seasonal influenza in the coming months strongly argues for aggressive influenza vaccination in geographies with Southern hemispherical pattern of circulation

Main goals were to emphasize the need to improve vaccination rates in “higher-risk” adults, and to provide an update on Canadian guidelines/resources available to pharmacists and other healthcare providers regarding immunization in such higher-risk groups. 

A consensus statement resulting from the IFA-led expert meeting in London, United Kingdom to address the role of advocacy organisations in promoting health through vaccinations.

Report resulting from the IFA “Forum to Explore the Role of Patient Organisations in Vaccination” with focus on improving vaccination of at-risk groups in the United Kingdom, and the important role patient organisations can play in this.

This comprehensive literature review, conducted by Ms. Vyvyan Mishra, seeks coherence through a synthesis of the literature on the secondary protective benefits of influenza vaccination to older adults with particular focus on older people with chronic diseases such as diabetes and chronic lung disease.

Consensus statement resulting from IFA expert meeting in France on changing the public perception of vaccination.

Consensus statement resulting from IFA-led expert meeting in Germany which aimed to identify barriers and opportunities to improve policy towards adult vaccination for at-risk groups in Germany

Report from IFA-led expert meeting in Germany which aimed to identify barriers and opportunities to improve policy towards adult vaccination for at-risk groups in Germany

This report calls for multi-pronged educational approaches to improve the life course vaccination narrative in France, where influenza vaccination rates have decreased from 60% in 2010 to 46% in 2017. This approach must be targeted to a variety of stakeholders, including policymakers, health care professionals and members of civil society.

The 2017 report uses data from across OECD countries to examine the differences in spending on prevention at both an aggregate and detailed level, and the policy implications that may result.

Pfizer Antigen Podcast where Dr Jane Barratt, Secretary General, IFA, speaks to the importance of vaccination in later life.

Despite the challenges associated with the COVID19, many lessons have been learned. For World Immunization Week 2020, IFA asked World Coalition on Adult Vaccination members what knowledge they have gained from the pandemic.

For World Immunization Week 2020, IFA asked members of the World Coalition on Adult Vaccination: Why do vaccines work for all? Here are some of their responses.

Report resulting from IFA expert meeting, which focuses on the importance of addressing barriers to vaccination for adults with heart and lung conditions in Sweden.

The following report reflects discussions held by mulit-disciplinary, multi-sectoral experts and thought leaders from the Asia Pacific region at an IFA expert meeting on the barriers and good practices to improving adult vaccination uptake rates in the Asia Pacific region.

IFA report on the importance of vaccination to older people with diabetes in the United Kingdom, as a result of IFA-led expert meeting.

Joint statement prepared by World Coalition on Adult Vaccination members for World Immunization Week 2019, which highlighted the need to raise awareness and educate communities on the importance of a life course approach to immunization, and address vaccine misinformation.

Joint statement prepared by World Coalition on Adult Vaccination members for World Immunization Week 2018, which called for vaccination to be central to a life course approach to healthy ageing.

The following consensus statement demonstrates the value of building bridges across professional and geographic boundaries, using one voice to advocate for improved vaccination policies and practices.

The following consensus statement demonstrates the importance of mobilizing knowledge on influenza vaccination for at-risk Canadians and identifies opportunities to help build capacity to influence policy across Canada, working toward equal opportunity.

Consensus statement on raising awareness on influenza vaccination resulting from the IFA-led expert meeting “Fighting the Flu through Targeted Awareness Campaigns”.

Consensus statement on the importance of a life course approach to vaccination for people with diabetes resulting from IFA-led expert meeting in Belfast.

IFA Expert Dr Mine Durusu-Tanriover is a consultant of acute care in Ankara, Turkey and Professor of Internal Medicine at Hacettepe University.

This webinar draws on the knowledge of two leading experts in the fields of vaccination ageing and health (Dr Melissa Andrew and Dr Shelly McNeil) to discuss how regular, up-to-date vaccinations can contribute to health and functional ability as we age.

Video of Dr Mine Durusu-Tanriover at the IFA 14^th Global Conference on Ageing, speaking to the importance of vaccination for older adults.

IFA sits down with Mr Gary Finnegan, Editor of Vaccines Today, to discuss common misconceptions when raising awareness for adult vaccinations, using digital media to reach out to older people and to encourage other organizations to join the IFA in promoting adult vaccination.

IFA webinar with Dr Samir Sinha to discuss existing obstacles on vaccination coverage of influenza, pneumonia and shingles among at-risk groups in Canada.

The fourth webinar of the IFA post-conference education webinar series. It is an interactive conversation with Mr David Sinclair and Ms Lily Parsey of International Longevity Centre – UK, which discusses the adult vaccination work of governments and NGOs, as well as the use of technology in promoting or hindering adult vaccination uptake rates.

In celebration of the 2019 UN International Day of Older Persons, IFA hosts webinar featuring Dr Melissa Andrew to explore how frailty impacts vaccine effectiveness and how this may be considered in a life course approach to immunization.

Dr Jane Barratt speaks to the importance of a life course approach to vaccination for healthy ageing.

Highlight reel from panel of experts (Dr Jane Barratt, Dr Mine Durusu-Tanriover, Dr Andrew Morris, Dr Eva Polverino) at IFA 14^th Global Conference on Ageing who speak to the importance of vaccination to older adults.

Video of Dr Eva Polverino at IFA 14^th Global Conference on Ageing, speaking to the importance of prioritizing collaborative, preventative efforts to improving vaccination uptake rates.

Cet échange de connaissances interactif d’une heure sert comme une plate-forme pour construire un réseau de plaidoyer durable et d’unifier les actions collectives entre les parties prenantes pour conduire le changement de politique et de pratique en France.

Dr Bram Palache speaks to the frustration surrounding high infection and death rates due to influenza, a disease that is avoidable and preventable through vaccination in video produced by eHealth Digital Media.

Executive summary resulting from 2019 Immunisation for All Ages Summit, focused on the prioritisation of prevention.