The VITAL project recently published two tools to boost the uptake of vaccinations amongst the elderly – one resource for healthcare professionals and another for policymakers.
As we get older, our immune system becomes less effective, meaning that we become more susceptible to infectious diseases. At the same time, vaccine uptake in the elderly population is not as high as it should be.
Healthcare professionals are often one-on-one with elderly patients, and can have an influence on the decisions that people make regarding vaccination.
Evidence-based conversations about vaccination can help to boost vaccine uptake, so VITAL put together an educational platform for healthcare professionals that can help to improve communication about vaccination.
The platform offers educational resources in five languages – English, Italian, Dutch, French and Hungarian – and is integrated with academic programmes so that the next generation of healthcare professionals can also benefit from it.
“A better understanding of vaccination is crucial to its acceptance by the aging population,” says project coordinator Debbie van Baarle. “As a healthcare professional, having insights into what influences older adults in deciding whether or not they accept vaccination is fundamental.”
The project also dove into how the economic impact of the current methods for managing infectious diseases in ageing adults could best be measured and reported on. Based on their findings, VITAL developed a toolkit to help decision-makers to figure out how best to organise national vaccination programmes.
For instance, one of the tools in the toolbox was a framework to help lay out how to analyse hot spots and patient flow.
Other tools included the four economic models that were developed as part of the project, each of which can illuminate different aspects of disease dynamics.
- VITALO static model: A general, static health-economic model focused on acute respiratory infections such as influenza.
- VITAL CORE dynamic model: A dynamic health-economic model that incorporates how disease patterns change over time and the influence of interventions.
- Age-Based risk prediction model: A population-based model that predicts infection risks across different age groups, including factors such as comorbidities and frailty.
- Fiscal model: A tool designed to assess the financial sustainability of vaccination programmes, enabling a broader perspective on their economic value.
These tools will help policymakers to visualise the long-term benefits of vaccinating the elderly, and provide a robust evidence-base to support policy decisions.
“The VITAL project's online repository offers evidence-based insights into the aging population and the health-economic benefits of vaccination strategies. By providing accessible economic models, tools, and evaluations, it empowers policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders to make informed decisions and enhance national vaccination programs, promoting transparency and global collaboration,” says van Baarle.
The work of VITAL will help the EU to be better prepared for the threat posed by infectious diseases, especially amongst the elderly. Diseases like influenza in particular have been earmarked by the World Health Organization as posing a pandemic threat, but boosting vaccination across all age groups can limit the impact that infectious diseases have.
The VITAL project is supported by the Innovative Medicines Initiative, a partnership between the European Union and the European pharmaceutical industry.