Of the over 18 million people over 60 eligible for flu and Covid-19 vaccinations, last year only 47% and 18% respectively were vaccinated, despite the recommended minimum coverage of 75%. Vaccination to protect against pneumococcal pneumonia is also underused, with just over 25% of the over 750,000 65-year-olds to whom it is recommended and offered free of charge by the National Health Service. Yet, for those over 65, pneumococcus is the most common cause of pneumonia, with a lethality of 20-40%. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is also of concern, among the infections that in the previous winter season had a greater impact on the elderly and chronic patients, in which it represents the second most common cause of viral pneumonia. In Italy, every year there are estimated to be around 290,000 cases of acute respiratory infection caused by RSV in the over-60s, causing over 25,000 hospitalizations and around 2,000 in-hospital deaths.
This is the epidemiological, health and social impact of the main vaccine-preventable respiratory diseases in the elderly, photographed during the conference of Italia Longeva, the national association established by the Ministry of Health for aging and active longevity, which institutions, professionals and health experts gathered today in Rome to share – as the title of the meeting states – evidence, strategies and best practices for the “Prioritization of vaccination prevention against respiratory diseases in the elderly and frail”.
With the upcoming autumn which opens the doors to respiratory viruses and forecasts of a particularly intense flu season, Italia Longeva has launched the appeal on the need to network and multiply efforts to promote wider adherence to vaccination by subjects more vulnerable, for whom respiratory infections represent a serious health threat. Starting from the “trivial” flu which, in the most serious cases, can lead to fatal complications as evidenced by the 400 thousand deaths from respiratory causes and the 300 thousand deaths from cardiovascular causes caused every year in Europe precisely by the flu.
Not to mention the economic impact on the NHS – and more generally on the welfare system also considering the social security costs for loss of productivity – due to the lack of vaccination. A recent analysis conducted by Altems Advisory – a spin-off of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart – explored the impact that increasing coverage would have on a portion of the vaccination calendar. From the analysis it emerged that the country system, and therefore not only the NHS, could have benefits in terms of recovery of tax revenue of up to 500 million euros, a saving in social costs of around 3 billion and a reduction in production lost up to 10 billion.
“Vaccination is still too often underestimated in its full value – explains Roberto Bernabei, president of Italia Longeva – Vaccines represent the most effective and safest protection tool against the most widespread respiratory diseases, preventing a condition of fragility from precipitating into disability With increasing life expectancy and an increasingly older population, a paradigm shift is needed that puts prevention at the center.”
It is “evident – Bernabei underlines – how public spending linked to healthcare must be interpreted as an investment and not a cost for the country. The stability, or on the contrary, the failure of our healthcare service depends first and foremost on the ability to implement effective prevention that achieve real vaccination management, virtuously integrating the interventions of the various professionals and care settings, and multiplying the opportunities for ‘good’ information to the citizen. More vaccination means less circulation of viruses, lower infection and contagion rates, fewer hospitalizations and fewer deaths. In short, more health, which is and must continue to be a ground for dialogue and a common goal of all the actors in the healthcare system.”
“For healthy ageing, in addition to investments, which are important and which we welcome with great satisfaction, it is necessary to introduce a paradigm shift that puts prevention in all its connotations back at the centre, starting from primary prevention, from healthy lifestyles that they make a great contribution to the sustainability of the system – adds Francesco Vaia, general director of Prevention, Ministry of Health – Respiratory viruses are all equally dangerous, because the resulting infections can be more or less serious depending on health conditions or fragility of those affected. In addition to being an important individual protection tool, vaccination produces a health benefit for the entire community and in particular for the sections of the population most at risk from respiratory viruses they are more likely to spread. This is why it is important to be prepared and get vaccinated.”
As part of its commitment to promoting aging and active longevity, Italia Longeva has launched the new social communication campaign “Health should not only be desired, it must be defended” which, through an advert, sends a warning to all elderly people : staying healthy and self-sufficient as we age, an objective that can also be achieved thanks to vaccination. The campaign was created with the patronage of Advertising Progress and the scientific societies of gerontology and geriatrics (Sigg), general medicine (Simg) and hygiene (Siti).
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