Why Adult Immunization Matters
Immunization is a key part of disease prevention throughout adulthood. Sustained, age-appropriate vaccination reduces individual risk, protects vulnerable populations, and strengthens health systems' capacity to prevent and respond to infectious disease threats, reinforcing population-level resilience across every stage of adult life.
Where Coverage Breaks Down
Immunization programs remain concentrated in early childhood, while vaccination across adolescence, adulthood, and older age is delivered through fragmented approaches. Missed opportunities are common and immunization is not consistently integrated into routine care, limiting its role as a continuous prevention strategy.
From Evidence to Implementation
Closing vaccination gaps requires a shift toward life course-oriented immunization. This spans age-specific vaccine schedules, emerging vaccine technologies and strategies to strengthen vaccine confidence and uptake. Equally important are policies that embed immunization into routine healthcare, improving equitable access and protection.
