Country meeting
(Helsinki, December 2024)

Adult Immunization in Finland: successes, lessons learned and the way forward

Meeting Objectives

    • Review the structure of the healthcare system in Finland, focusing on how adult vaccination programs are integrated into the national vaccination plan. Analyze current policies and strategies for adult vaccination.
    • Explore the integration of national healthcare registers in monitoring and evaluating vaccine coverage and effectiveness. Analyze the organization, distribution, and regulatory systems for adult vaccination at the national and regional level.
    • Discuss the effectiveness of current surveillance systems in detecting and responding to vaccine-preventable diseases in adults.
    • Understand the role of modeling and economic evaluations in shaping vaccine policy. Discuss how modelling studies can inform policy decisions and prioritization of vaccines.
    • Address the factors influencing vaccine acceptance and strategies to increase demand among adults. Assess public attitudes and beliefs toward adult vaccination.
    • Focus on existing vaccination strategies for specific population groups and the effectiveness of such programs. Discuss future directions for adult vaccination.

Intended impact and Target Audience

AIB country meetings are organized to discuss country specific aspects of adult vaccination together with local experts. For these meetings, the AIB invites local academics, healthcare providers, public health representatives and policy makers to present on adult vaccination strategies implemented in the country, as well as educational and communicative initiatives aimed at increasing adult vaccine acceptance and coverage rates. The aim of these meetings is to establish a collaborative network of national experts of different fields, creating a platform for the exchange of knowledge and best practices in adult vaccination. 

Background document

Background-document

The background document contains background information on the topic of the meeting, a selection of scientific references and abstracts related to the different presentations.

Agenda

         Wednesday, 4 December 2024

     SESSION 1: Opening, introduction and objectives 
     Chairs: Pierre Van Damme and Heini Salo

     SESSION 2: Healthcare system and the adult vaccination program in Finland
     Chairs part 1: Pierre Van Damme and Heini Salo // part 2: Hanna Nohynek and Niyazi Cakmak

     SESSION 3: National registers in healthcare and their role in vaccine evaluation and monitoring

         3.1 National registers in healthcare and social welfare

         Chairs: Hanna Nohynek and Niyazi Cakmak

         3.2 Role of national registers in vaccination

         Chairs: Paolo Bonanni and Roman Chlibek

     SESSION 4: Epidemiology, Disease Burden, and Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Infections in Adult
     Chairs: Arto Palmu and Asko Järvinen (TBC)

     SESSION 5: Modeling and economic evaluation studies to support decision-making
     Chairs: Odile Launay (TBC) and Thomas Weinke

         Thursday, 5 December 2024

     SESSION 6: Vaccine acceptance and demand
     Chairs: Giovanni Gabutti and Ligita Jancoriene

     SESSION 7: Adult Vaccination in Finland in specific situations and population groups
     Chairs part 1: Giovanni Gabutti and Ligita Jancoriene and Chair part 2: Javier Díez-Domingo (TBC) and Per Ljungman

     SESSION 8: Breakout groups
     Chairs Birgit Weinberger and Pierre Van Damme

     SESSION 9: Vaccine clinical trial environment
     Chairs: Heini Salo and Paolo Bonanni

     SESSION 10: Meeting summary, final discussion and closing remarks
     Chairs: Heini Salo, Paolo Bonanni and Arto Palmu