Meeting at an event of the Adult Immunization Board (AIB), national and international experts discussed vaccination policies and strategies aimed at healthcare professionals, pregnant women, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals.

Among the proposals presented at the meeting and released today to Lusa, measures to integrate immunization into healthy aging and longevity policies stand out, which are part of one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Technicians warned of the need for Portugal to align itself with the 2030 Immunization Agenda (IA2030), a global strategy of the World Health Organization (WHO) to maximize the impact of vaccines.

According to the WHO, if IA2030 is fully implemented, it could save 50 million lives by 2030, ensuring that people of all ages, everywhere, have access to immunization.

At the AIB meeting, experts also suggested expanding the National Immunization Program (PNV) to include more vaccines and eliminating the requirement for a medical prescription.

The creation of income-adjusted co-payments or reimbursements was also discussed, ensuring greater equity in access, as well as improvements in procurement systems, which could generate savings and allow the introduction of new vaccines into the PNV.

In anticipation of the event, pulmonologist Filipe Froes acknowledged to Lusa that the PNV remains "very focused" on pediatric ages, noting that "it is still not properly adapted to a lifelong immunization program."

To increase vaccination coverage rates, especially among the elderly population, Filipe Froes proposes adopting the “95-95-95” strategy to achieve 95% vaccination coverage in seniors over 65, chronically ill individuals, and healthcare professionals, significantly reducing the impact of infection.

Targeting

Experts emphasized the need for “targeted and evidence-based communication that links vaccination to healthy aging, the prevention of chronic diseases, and quality of life.”

According to the meeting's conclusions, combating misinformation should be done with clear messages, adapted to different audiences, balancing scientific rigor and accessible language.

“The population should be treated as a partner, not just as a target of campaigns. Translating efficacy and coverage rates into tangible metrics – such as hospital beds saved – can reinforce the confidence of healthcare professionals and citizens,” the text states.

The experts also recommended continuous training for healthcare professionals and facilitated access to updated information in practical formats.

In terms of logistics, the maintenance and expansion of vaccination sites was advocated through collaboration between the National Health Service (SNS) and pharmacies, in addition to active invitations to eligible groups and simplified scheduling initiatives, such as the "open house" model.