Compared to young and middle-aged adults, older adults bear a higher disease burden and lower immunity against viruses. Some epidemics are more likely to outbreak in places where the elderly gather, such as nursing homes. To address this, it is crucial to refine vaccination planning for the elderly and enhance their vaccine access and awareness. Many developed and some developing countries have integrated several essential vaccines into their National Immunization Programs (NIPs) targeting older adults. Key practices to boost vaccination rates among older adults in these countries include disseminating and updating scientific evidence on relevant vaccines, introducing key vaccines for older adults to NIP, and issuing recommendations from physician groups and professional organizations for vaccination among older adults. Even though a broad range of vaccines are available for all age groups in China, some policy and financing issues have resulted in low vaccination rates among older adults. It is recommended to strengthen evidence-based support, improve vaccine accessibility and affordability, and promptly establish a comprehensive vaccination service system that ensures coverage for the entire population throughout their lifetime.
Senior medical writer, consultant at Duke University, former senior reporter for Southern Weekly, and visiting scholar in the US Humphrey Fellowship Program on Public Health.
Her main areas of interest include health system reform, drug innovation, quality improvement, and tobacco control. She has been involved in projects such as "International Experience in the Management and Regulation of Health Insurance Medicine," "Strategies for Advancing the National Immunization Program," and "Air Pollution and Mental Health." She has also been the project lead for "E-Cigarettes and Tobacco Control Research." Duanduan has long been devoted to the popularization of vaccines, infectious diseases, mental health, and other areas of public health. Additionally, she has participated in the translation of Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna's book on gene editing, "The Amazing Power of Gene Editing: Breaking Heaven's Chance."
Associate Professor of Global Health, Duke Kunshan University
His primary research interests are in the epidemiology and prevention of diseases and syndromes of aging, clinical applications of frailty assessment, healthy aging, epidemiological causal inference, statistical analysis methods, and global health.
Undergraduate student (Class of 2026) major in Global Health (Biology Track), Duke Kunshan University
She has been participating in research projects such as immunization of non-NIP vaccines for the elderly population in ethnic minority inhabited regions, long-term care policy analysis for the elderly in different provinces across China, and clinical trial of smoking cessation for pregnant women in the United States.
In recent years, declining birth rates, the increasing variety of vaccines, and the growing demand for adult immunizations have led to a decrease in childhood National Immunization Program (NIP) vaccination volumes at primary healthcare facilities, while demand for adult immunizations has been on the rise.
Rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) is a global public health problem that seriously threatens the health of children under 5 years old, causing up to 200,000 mortality of children each year. In China, the burden of RVGE remains substantial and is difficult to prevent and control.
Currently, most of China’s regions handle procuring and distributing its National Immunization Program (NIP) and non-NIP vaccines separately. Different entities or stakeholders undertake the distribution of NIP and non-NIP vaccines from the vaccine manufacturers to the county and district-level CDCs.
