Vaccination among the elderly: European state of art and the need for a culture shift| JOURNAL OF GERONTOLOGY AND GERIATRICS
Vol. 65: ISSUE 3 - SEPTEMBER 2017
Clinical Geriatrics - Reviews
Published: 2017-09-15
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Vaccination among the elderly: European state of art and the need for a culture shift

Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Polo Invecchiamento, Neuroscienze, Testa-Collo ed Ortopedia, Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli, Rome, Italy
Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Polo Invecchiamento, Neuroscienze, Testa-Collo ed Ortopedia, Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli, Rome, Italy
Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Polo Invecchiamento, Neuroscienze, Testa-Collo ed Ortopedia, Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli, Rome, Italy
Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Polo Invecchiamento, Neuroscienze, Testa-Collo ed Ortopedia, Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli, Rome, Italy
Public health Herpes Zoster Post-herpetic neuralgia Pneumococcal vaccination Influenza

Abstract

Background. Since the development of the first vaccine, immunization has been shown to be one of the most
effective public health measures to prevent diseases. Vaccination policy is currently mainly focused on the
young (aged below 18), to some extent the old (aged above 65) but, in contrast to childhood immunization
programs, adult vaccination is not considered to be a routine health intervention.
Methods. A PubMed research was performed using elderly and vaccination policy as key words.
Conclusions. Vaccination in adults remains an underused public health strategy in the promotion of healthy
ageing, and adult vaccination rates are still far below the target. Influenza, pneumococcal pneumonia and
pneumococcal invasive disease, pertussis and even HZV (because of a high incidence of post-herpetic neuralgia
among the elderly) have been highlighted as the most important diseases for which is important to look
after immunization strategies due to their burden related to deaths or disabilities. Investing € 1 in adult immunization can generate over € 4 of future economic revenue for government.

Affiliations

E.R. Villani

Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Polo Invecchiamento, Neuroscienze, Testa-Collo ed Ortopedia, Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli, Rome, Italy

G. Colloca

Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Polo Invecchiamento, Neuroscienze, Testa-Collo ed Ortopedia, Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli, Rome, Italy

S. Valente

Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Polo Invecchiamento, Neuroscienze, Testa-Collo ed Ortopedia, Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli, Rome, Italy

R. Bernabei

Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Polo Invecchiamento, Neuroscienze, Testa-Collo ed Ortopedia, Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli, Rome, Italy

License

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Copyright

© Società Italiana di Gerontologia e Geriatria (SIGG) , 2017

How to Cite

[1]
Villani, E., Colloca, G., Valente, S. and Bernabei, R. 2017. Vaccination among the elderly: European state of art and the need for a culture shift. JOURNAL OF GERONTOLOGY AND GERIATRICS. 65, 3 (Sep. 2017), 150-160.
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