16th Global Conference Resources
We are thrilled to announce that the highly anticipated resources from the 16th Global Conference on Ageing are now available for your exploration and utilization. The conference, a dynamic platform where experts and stakeholders converge to discuss critical issues surrounding ageing, was a tremendous success. It brought together thought leaders, researchers, policymakers, and advocates from across the globe to delve into innovative strategies, research findings, and best practices concerning the ever-evolving field of gerontology. Now, it's your opportunity to delve into these enriching resources that encapsulate the wealth of insights shared during the conference.
Thank you for your unwavering support and dedication to the IFA's mission. Let's embrace this opportunity to further our collective efforts in creating a world where every older adult can age with dignity, health, and fulfillment.
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Please be advised that the resource link provided to delegates will only be accessible until September 8th, 2023. Please make sure to take advantage of the available resources before this date. | |
Pay homage to Kawaldip Sehmi | |
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It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Kawaldip Sehmi on Tuesday, 1st August 2023.
In honor of Kawaldip’s remarkable life and contributions, an online memorial page to celebrate his work and cherished moments. We invite you all to join us in paying homage to this extraordinary individual by sharing your memories, thoughts, and pictures. Your stories and recollections will become part of a lasting tribute to Kawaldip’s inspiring journey. To contribute, please visit the online memorial page.
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The UN Decade of Healthy Ageing – Call for Submissions of Interventions for the Prevention of the Abuse of Older People
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In response to the lack of resources on effective strategies to combat the abuse of older adults, there is a call for the World Health Organization to help support the development of key tools such as templates for various programs and initiatives that address this form of abuse. As part of a World Health Organization led initiative to develop an intervention accelerator, there is an ongoing call through the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing Platform for submissions of current interventions that aim to reduce the abuse of older persons. Interventions submitted will serve as foundational reference points towards the development of useable templates to accelerate the creation and implementation of new interventions globally. The establishment of an intervention accelerator will help to address, reduce, and prevent the abuse of older people around the world and act as a crucial resource for an interdisciplinary response to the abuse of older adults.
All interventions are welcomed to be submitted through the Decade Platform. Submitted interventions must be targeting the abuse of older people specifically, but can include any form of abuse. Additionally, interventions can target more than one age group in addition to older adults. These interventions will be added to an international research-practice network that has been created through the context of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing.
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Listen to the latest podcast episode where Dr. Jane Barratt and esteemed guests, Dr. Amuthavalli Thiyagarajan Jotheeswaran from the World Health Organization and Mr. David Sinclair from the International Longevity Centre UK, delve into the crucial topic of measuring success in our pursuit of the Decade's goals.
They explore how to enhance health across diverse metrics, involving various stakeholders and the elderly themselves.
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Improving vaccine confidence and health equity for older adults in Canada in light of COVID-19 vaccine innovations
In January 2023, the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) gathered experts on vaccination policy together to discuss how to improve Canadians’ access to and knowledge of innovations in COVID-19 vaccines. Despite COVID-19 continuing to pose a threat to the health of older adults in Canada, uptake of new bivalent vaccines is low. One barrier that was identified was a lack of understanding around why regular booster doses are required for optimal protection against COVID-19.
In response to this problem and based upon the recommendations of experts in the field, the IFA created a guide to COVID-19 immunization, customized for each province and territory in Canada, to assist individuals in understanding their eligibility for COVID-19 vaccination as well as the risks that COVID-19 infection can pose to their health. Evidence has shown that age, alongside chronic underlying conditions, are both risk factors for serious and life-threatening outcomes from COVID-19 infection. COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death from infection. However, protection against mild and moderate disease may reduce over time, especially amongst at-risk populations including older adults. For the best protection, it is recommended to stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccinations including booster doses.
Access province and territory-specific information here and share these free resources with patients, constituents, friends, and family members.
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Vaccines4Life
Today, the need for robust adult immunization programs and research is more evident than ever, with older people and those with chronic medical conditions at higher risk of serious life-threatening complications from vaccine-preventable diseases, such as influenza, pneumonia, and pertussis.
The International Federation on Ageing’s Vaccine4Life (V4L) program has forged powerful connections between the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing and the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030), toward life-saving vaccines that can be accessible for all older adults, wherever they are in the world.
The V4L Program is framed and enacted through the three broad pillars of the Immunization for All Ages (IFAA) initiative: prevention, access and equity. Each of these pillars represents a Call to Action and is underpinned by clear tangible mechanisms.
Through the lens of these three pillars, V4L strategically targets the action areas of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing primary integrated care, long-term care and vulnerable populations, age-friendly environments, and combatting ageism in its portfolio strategy.
For more information about the Immunization for All Ages manifesto visit the link here.
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AVAT
Earlier this year, an expert meeting was held in Prague, Czech Republic to pilot-test the Adult Vaccination Advocacy Toolkit, known as the “AVAT”. This pilot-testing involved understanding the practicality of its implementation at a national level, while assessing the different sections of the policy toolkit and how effective they are in supporting adult vaccination advocacy.
By engaging in insightful discussions with discipline and sector-diverse experts, including those from long-term care and social service settings, geriatricians, and industry, this meeting resulted in multiple outputs and assets to support capacity-building for adult vaccination advocacy, while providing examples of how the toolkit can be used to create resources for such initiatives.
An executive summary on this meeting has been released and shares valuable insights, including key findings and next steps in the AVAT policy toolkit’s piloting. It ultimately highlights how this expert meeting reinforced the value of the AVAT and how important it is for other advocacy groups to use it as a reference document to mobilize vaccination advocacy changes.
This executive summary for the expert meeting is now available on IFA’s vaccines4life platform. The AVAT policy toolkit can also be found at this same link. Please stay tuned and look forward to the launch of the case study being developed for this toolkit that is also linked to this expert meeting.
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Insights from the Presidential Symposium on Immunisation for all Ages
Vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) have an outsized impact on the health and functioning of older adults, who are often even more at-risk due to chronic comorbid conditions. Despite the adverse consequences of VPDs, immunisation policies and programs lack foundational elements, which furthers health inequities and gaps in vaccine uptake in older people.
The International Federation on Ageing (IFA) recently held its 16th Global Conference on Ageing entitled Challenge, Transformation, Change which aimed to influence and shape policy that improves the quality of life of current and future generations of older people. The IFA’s 16th Global Conference boldly focused on themes not often prioritized and actioned in policy dialogue, including Immunisation for All Ages.
The Presidential Symposium on Immunisation for All Ages entitled “A life-course approach to vaccination to achieve health equity in Asia and beyond”, sponsored by Sanofi Global, joined experts Prof. Weerasak Muangpaisan, Prof. Paul Van Buynder, Prof. Stefan Gravenstein, and Dr. Ryan Macfarlane to call to action to prioritize a life-course approach to immunization in the Asia region and globally.
The Presidential Symposium brought forward expert voices from across disciplines and regions to advance sharing of global best practice, support the development of adequate vaccination programs, enhance evidence and monitoring on the social and economic benefits of vaccination and make strides towards healthy ageing for all.
Read the executive summary to learn more about the key messages and dialogue that arose from the Symposium..
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The IFA will be launching a technical report on Evidence to Action: A review of the National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs). This comprehensive study on 34 NITAGs was conducted to better understand the process rigour, transparency, accountability, and composition of experts in line with the life-course approach to immunization among national vaccine committees. Furthermore, this study was conducted to help influence and shape a high level review of NITAGs and the integration of the WHO Immunization Agenda 2030. | |
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