The first online focus group, in the framework of the Civil Society promoting vaccination across the life-course project, will be held in Spanish the 26 of September 2023, organized by La Asociación Española contra la Meningitis to discuss the importance of life course vaccination, including Covid-19 lessons learned, barriers to vaccine access, options of diverse vaccine choices, and the possible change of the annual vaccination schedule.
Output: the output of the webinar will be a public report containing the key insights and recommendations gained from the meeting.
Context:
Most vaccination programmes focus on discrete life stages such as childhood, but evidence supports a life-course approach, meaning vaccination given through all phases of life. The life-course approach to immunization recognizes the role of immunization as a strategy to prevent disease and maximize health over one’s entire life, regardless of an individual’s age. A life-course approach requires that immunization schedules and access to vaccination respond to an individual’s stage in life, their lifestyle and specific vulnerabilities/risks to infectious disease that they may face.
Adult immunization in Spain
In 2018, an expert group on adult immunization noted that there is low health care workers and public understanding of the subject, resulting inlow coverage. Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis are recommended for citizens over 65 years of age.
COVID-19: As of 15 January 2022, according to Our World in Data, cumulative confirmed cases amounted to 8.09 million, with nearly 2.5 million added in the December-January period. There have been nearly 91,000 confirmed deaths. As of 13 January, nearly 87 million doses had been administered; more than 86% of the population had received at least one dose, and 82% were fully vaccinated.
Influenza: Eurostat reports that influenza vaccination coverage for adults >65 years was 65.50% in 2020, up from 54.30% the prior year. Coverage among healthcare workers is estimated at less than 40%.
WHIT THE UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT OF
Project timeline: May-December 2023
To know more:
Civil Society promoting vaccination across the life-course project
The engagement of Cittadinanzattiva on vaccination
For more information, please write to Daniela Quaggia: