Welcome to the 9th Lifecourse Immunization Summit, a pivotal event in the global health calendar, taking place this year in the vibrant city of Barcelona from 28 to 30 November 2024. Building on the success of previous summits, this gathering continues to focus on an essential public health strategy: breaking the cycle of infection transmission among family members by advocating for vaccination across all ages.

In an era where public health faces unprecedented challenges, Lifecourse Immunization emerges as a vital strategy, not just for individual well-being but for the collective health of nations. This approach, which emphasizes the importance of vaccination throughout all stages of life, is more than a healthcare initiative; it's a robust framework for national resilience and community welfare.

As we convene in Barcelona for the 9th Lifecourse Immunization Summit, we warmly invite health professionals, researchers, policymakers, and advocates to join us in this crucial discussion. Together, we can advance our understanding, share best practices, and work towards a world where every family member, regardless of age, is protected from preventable diseases through the power of vaccines.

 

DAY 1 AGENDA
28 November 2024
Family-Centric Immunization Strategies: Focus on Infants, Children and Adolescents

11:00 - 11:30 - Opening Keynote
  • The Importance of Family-Centric Immunization Strategies in Public Health
11:30 - 13:30 Section: A Lifecourse Approach Starting From Families
  • Successful Family Immunization Campaigns - Lessons Learned: Presentations of real-world examples from various regions
  • Effective Communication Strategies to Promote Family Vaccination: Techniques for healthcare providers to address vaccine hesitancy.
  • Integrating Lifecourse Immunization into National Health Policies: Exploring policy frameworks and best practices
14:30 - 16:30 Section: Understanding the Cycle of Infection in Families
  • Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases in Family Settings: Understanding how diseases spread within family units.
  • The Role of Herd Immunity in Protecting Vulnerable Family Members: Discussing community immunity and its implications for families.
  • Challenges in Implementing Family-Wide Vaccination Programs: Insights from different countries and cultures.
17:00 - 19:00 Section: Targeted Strategies for Lifecourse Immunization
  • Maternal and Neonatal Immunization - Protecting the Start of Life: Focus on vaccines during pregnancy and for newborns.
  • Pediatric Vaccination: - Building a Foundation for Lifelong Health: Strategies for keeping children's vaccinations up-to-date.
  • Engaging Teenagers and Young Adults in the Vaccination Dialogue: Addressing the unique challenges of this demographic.

 

DAY 2 AGENDA
29 November 2024
Family-Centric Immunization Strategies: Focus on 65+ age group

09:00 - 11:00 Section: Age-related challenges
  • Efficacy of Vaccines in the Elderly: Exploring how various vaccines perform specifically in the 65+ age group, including flu, pneumonia, shingles, and COVID-19 vaccines.
  • Age-Related Immune Response: Understanding how ageing impacts the immune system's response to vaccines and strategies to enhance vaccine efficacy in older adults.
  • Vaccine Safety and Side Effects: Discussing the safety profiles of different vaccines for the elderly and managing potential side effects.
11:30 - 13:30 Section: A Multidisciplinary cross-speciality approach
  • Role of Caregivers and Healthcare Providers: Emphasizing the role of caregivers and healthcare providers in promoting and administering vaccinations to the elderly.
  • Interactions with Other Medications and Conditions: Discussing how vaccines interact with common medications and chronic conditions prevalent in the elderly.
  • Future Outlook and Emerging Challenges: Discussing future challenges and the outlook for elderly vaccination, including the potential need for new vaccines.
14:30 - 16:30 Section: Access, Distribution, and Public Health Policy
  • Access and Distribution Challenges: Addressing barriers to vaccine access for the elderly, including transportation, mobility issues, and distribution in care homes.
  • Public Health Policies and Recommendations: Reviewing current public health recommendations for vaccinations in the elderly and how these policies are formulated.
  • Health Equity and Vaccination: Tackling disparities in vaccine access and uptake among older adults, focusing on socio-economic, racial, and geographic factors.
17:00 - 19:00 Section: Social and Behavioral Considerations
  • Vaccine Hesitancy in the Elderly: Understanding the reasons behind vaccine hesitancy in this age group and strategies for effective communication and education.
  • Legal and Ethical Considerations: Exploring mandatory vaccinations' legal and ethical implications for the elderly, especially in care home settings.
  • Case Studies and Success Stories: Presenting case studies or success stories of effective vaccination campaigns targeting the elderly. Comparing and contrasting approaches to elderly vaccination in different countries and cultures.