With a steady stream of new vaccines emerging and numerous health priorities competing for attention, European health systems now require more transparent, evidence-based methods for deciding which vaccines to adopt. To address this need, the Adult Immunization Board held a technical meeting in April 2024 to examine current best practices and innovative strategies for integrating adult vaccines into National Immunization Programs (NIPs). The discussion was organized around three core themes: how to make informed decisions about new vaccines, how to put those decisions into practice, and how to monitor and evaluate their effectiveness.
In Europe, National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) are responsible for issuing evidence-based recommendations on vaccine introduction. These groups rely on a clearly defined and prioritized set of criteria to guide their decisions. The most influential factors include the disease’s public health burden, the vaccine’s efficacy, effectiveness, and safety profile, cost-effectiveness analyses, the anticipated impact on health outcomes, and the overall strength of the supporting scientific evidence.
Successfully rolling out a vaccine program demands careful planning and strong coordination. Key activities highlighted include establishing clear objectives, defining which groups to prioritize, developing effective public communication, training healthcare workers, and integrating pharmacists into the effort.
After launch, programs must be continuously tracked for safety, effectiveness, and overall impact. The field of implementation science, combined with behavioral and cultural insights (BCI), offers valuable tools for this phase. These disciplines enable a thorough evaluation of the rollout and help pinpoint practical, real-world strategies to increase vaccination rates.
The adult population is highly diverse, meaning the challenges to vaccine program success vary significantly across different groups. Despite this variability, several common obstacles are frequently encountered. A consistent theme in addressing these barriers is the critical need for improved cooperation, collaboration, and coordination throughout the European region.
Content Editor: Xinyue Zhou
Page Editor: Ruitong Li
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References
Boccalini, S., Bechini, A., Del Riccio, M., Weinberger, B., Wysocki, J., Martinelli, D., … Pattyn, J. (2025). Strategies for introducing and implementing vaccines for adults into national immunization programs in Europe: Good practices and key insights of the adult immunization board meeting. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2025.2451487
