A life-course approach to immunisation
Programmes that support immunisation across the life course can improve population health and promote health system sustainability. International examples of best practice offer valuable lessons for implementing policies that support immunisation throughout life.
A life-course approach to immunisation
Programmes that support immunisation across the life course can improve population health and promote health system sustainability. International examples of best practice offer valuable lessons for implementing policies that support immunisation throughout life.
Context
Immunisation is one of the most effective and cost-effective public health interventions available. Expanding immunisation programmes beyond childhood represents a valuable opportunity to prevent disease, support healthy ageing and reduce the burden on health systems.
Immunisation is one of the most effective and cost-effective public health interventions available. Expanding immunisation programmes beyond childhood represents a valuable opportunity to prevent disease, support healthy ageing and reduce the burden on health systems.
A life-course approach requires that immunisation policies respond to an individual’s stage in life and specific risks to infection they may face. Adolescents, pregnant women, older people, caregivers, healthcare professionals, people with chronic conditions and other vulnerable groups can all benefit from immunisation programmes. In addition, high vaccination coverage will protect whole communities against disease through herd immunity and may offer sustainable protection against antimicrobial resistance.
While the benefits of taking this approach are beginning to be recognised around the world, development of policies that support access to immunisation beyond childhood has been slow and varies between countries. As a result, many of the goals set by the World Health Organization in the Global Vaccine Action Plan will not be achieved by 2020, and there is an urgent need to implement policies that promote vaccination coverage across the life course.
Download project output
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Five of the six countries we examined have immunisation schedules that cover the whole life course
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In four of the six countries we examined, healthcare professionals are supported to be vaccinated
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Only one of the six countries we examined has well-developed electronic databases to collect and share immunisation data
What we achieved
HPP was commissioned by the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) to research and develop a report and policy framework to support policymakers considering how to implement a life-course approach to immunisation.
Through desk research and interviews with experts in six countries (Australia, Brazil, France, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States), we identified five key components needed for effective life-course immunisation policy and assessed the progress of each country against them. The five components are:
- Comprehensive immunisation programme that supports vaccine availability
- Public demand for immunisation
- Engaged healthcare professionals
- Multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral coordination
- Robust data informing policies and programmes.
The report also includes 15 case studies and six country profiles to demonstrate examples of best practice and lessons which can be applied in other contexts.
The report and infographic were launched in September 2019 to coincide with the European Commission Global Vaccination Summit.
Key partners and stakeholders
The content of this report was developed in close consultation with the IFPMA Life-Course Immunization Working Group, which is formed of representatives from a number of IFPMA members.
Immunisation experts who were interviewed and provided feedback on this report:
- Ray Borrow, Public Health England
- Kelly Carulli, Audacious Inquiry
- Catherine Heffernan, Immunisations and Vaccination services NHS England
- James Daniel, US Department of Health and Human Service
- Jean-Louis Koeck, MesVaccins
- Lonnie Peterson, Washington State Department of Health
- Jonathan Raviotta, University of Pittsburgh
- Rosana Richtmann, Instituto de Infectologia Emilio Ribas
- Rekah Shah, Pharmacy London
- Shannon Stokley, Immunization Services Division, CDC
- Nicola Thorley, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Hospitals Trust
- Richard Zimmerman, University of Pittsburgh
- Members of the PhRMA committee