From the active call to vaccination to the obligation for healthcare professionals: 7 HappyAgeing proposals

HappyAgeing – Italian Alliance for Active Aging, today presented the proposals contained in the Position Paper ‘Adult – elderly vaccinations in the 2021/2022 season’, also on the occasion of the Grandparents’ Day on 2 October. At the center of the debate is the defense of the adult-elderly not only from Covid-19, but also from influenza, pneumococcus, Herpes zoster, whooping cough and diphtheria. From the active call to the implementation of a national vaccination register, up to the obligation of vaccination for health professionals, the association has illustrated a ‘recipe’ in 7 points. “Italy is one of the longest-lived countries: in 2019, according to Eurostat, we were in second place after Spain for life expectancy (83.6 years, +2.3 years compared to the EU average), however this demographic structure caused a significant turnaround with the pandemic. Almost a year of life expectancy at birth was lost, with some regions experiencing an even greater loss “, recalled Michele Conversano, president of the Technical Committee -scientific of HappyAgeing, introducing the II National Assembly of the association on the immunization of adults and the elderly, held in ‘phygital’ mode at the Frentani Congress Center in Rome, thanks to the non-conditioning contribution of Gsk, Msd, Pfizer, Sanofi Pasteur and Seqirus. “In an aging society – he underlined – there is a phenomenon of immunosenescence, that is, a lower physiological response to infectious diseases, a reduction in immunity acquired in infants aunt, and therefore a greater risk of complications: for this reason it is necessary to pay particular attention to immunization policies by focusing on vaccinations against influenza, pneumococcus and Herpes zoster, but without forgetting the pertussis and diphtheria that are returning to circulate in Europe, and tetanus, the coverage of which decreases over time. This is why HappyAgeing intends to make its contribution through a constant production of analysis documents, but also, and above all, extremely concrete proposals “.” It is necessary to continue to promote vaccination against pneumococcus and influenza that affect the respiratory system, particularly in risk also in Covid infection – explained Conversano – but it is also necessary to pay attention to the dangers represented by Herpes zoster which, while not affecting this system, would certainly compromise the conditions of the elderly making them more vulnerable “. highlighted how the current vaccination coverage is far from the expected objectives and how the risks of influenza, Herpes zoster, pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus and pneumococcal infections are underestimated by the over 50s. Influenza, the third cause of death from infectious disease in Italy, it is known to all, but only 4.4% admit they are very afraid of it (Censis data), men three 25.8% of the elderly over 75 are not afraid of it at all. Similarly, it is public opinion among older adults that “pneumococcus can be cured with antibiotics”, while in relation to Herpes zoster, few know the seriousness of the consequences of an infection. From these premises, and from “a rigorous scientific analysis”, the 7 HappyAgeing proposals for the 2021/22 season are born. Here they are: 1) Active call for vaccination. The invitation to people, the goal of vaccination programs, is part of the new Essential Levels of Assistance. Failure to actively call for vaccination for a person entitled to, such as the elderly – but also the ‘fragile adult’ – constitutes a right denied to the citizen for which the entire chain of the national health service of the regional health service is responsible. It is important that all Regions can identify their own organizational model and apply it as soon as possible, starting with the flu vaccination campaign, and extending it to all the vaccinations provided for by the National Pnpv-National Vaccine Prevention Plan (influenza, pneumococcus, Herpes zoster and Dtpa -difteritis tetanus pertussis) 2) Mandatory for all health professionals. Covid has shown how health workers have unfortunately been the vehicle for the virus to enter health and care facilities in many realities. Strong promotion initiatives are needed on all possible occasions as health workers’ flu vaccination coverage is still very low today. It would be essential to make all vaccinations mandatory for health professionals, as already provided for by some Italian Regions. 3) Start flu vaccination courses in advance. It is advisable that the indications regarding the flu vaccination campaign, by the institutions, reach the Regions promptly so that they have the time to organize an ad hoc vaccination campaign. 4) Go through the doors of the clinics. The experience of the anti-Covid vaccination campaign allowed the idea of ​​vaccinating outside the vaccination clinic to be finally accepted. During the pandemic, vaccines were carried out not only in the doctor’s office, but also in hospitals, RSAs and hubs (sports halls, gyms, multipurpose centers), up to the drive-in mode in large car parks. The collaboration between general medicine, hospitals, specialists and prevention departments was thus strengthened. It would therefore be useful if all this were now applied both for the flu vaccination campaign and for the other vaccinations provided for by the PNPV, first of all exploiting the infrastructures set up for the anti-Covid vaccination. 5) National vaccination registry (Avn). Today, the anti-Covid vaccination coverage data is obtained in real time, above all thanks to the media power that the vaccination campaign has covered. Covid has therefore shown that it is possible to obtain vaccination coverage data for the entire population. Now, therefore, this system must be maintained and extended to all vaccinations provided by the PNPV for the adult-elderly. We need something more than the sum of 21 regional registries: we need a national, computerized system that also allows us to monitor the offer and vaccination coverage provided by the Lea and Pnpvs. This must be done not only for the flu, but also for immunizations against pneumococcus, Herpers zoster, diphtheria and pertussis. 6) Continue to support innovation. We must be able to understand the innovations from different points of view: organizational, always seeking new organizational solutions more suitable for the various contexts to make vaccination more accessible to the population; technological, through the introduction and support of new and increasingly effective vaccines and vaccines against diseases for which there is no possibility of immunization. It is essential that public health interventions to protect health are based on the best evidence of effectiveness and are implemented in all regions, in an equitable way to reduce inequalities. Innovation must be rewarded by finding ways to promote it, when the data certifies its value. Finally, from a scientific point of view, hoping for evaluations on the possible co-administration of vaccines intended for the adult-elderly. 7) Promote correct and effective communication. Ineffective and often poorly conducted communication has created difficulties and misunderstandings in the anti-Covid vaccination campaign. We have therefore seen how wrong communication can hinder even safe and effective vaccines. In light of this, therefore, it is necessary to reiterate that every communicative intervention in the vaccination field must be implemented with a view to the centrality of the interlocutor and an overall integration between the different means of communication and between the different actors that make up the territorial network. Therefore, communication remains a cornerstone, which must be simple, effective and directed to the target population. In this regard, the new communication and awareness campaign conceived by HappyAgeing for 2021, ‘Age does not matter, the vaccine does!’ Was also presented, in order to push adults, over 65 and frail patients to get vaccinated against influenza, pneumococcus and herpes zoster. The campaign will be divided into 4 videos, short-docs lasting 2 minutes, in which the importance of vaccines will be told through true stories. Each clip, which will be published monthly starting today, will be disseminated through the social channels and the HappyAgeing website.