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Review
. 2020 Apr;179(4):547-553.
doi: 10.1007/s00431-019-03511-8. Epub 2020 Feb 18.

Experts' opinion for improving global adolescent vaccination rates: a call to action

Chiara Azzari  1 , Javier Diez-Domingo  2 , Evelyn Eisenstein  3 , Saul N Faust  4 , Andreas Konstantopoulos  5 , Gary S Marshall  6 , Fernanda Rodrigues  7 , Tino F Schwarz  8 , Catherine Weil-Olivier  9
Affiliations
Review

Experts' opinion for improving global adolescent vaccination rates: a call to action

Chiara Azzari et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2020 Apr.

Abstract

Worldwide, lifestyle and resource disparities among adolescents contribute to unmet health needs, which have crucial present and future public health implications for both adolescents and broader communities. Risk of infection among adolescents is amplified by biological, behavioral, and environmental factors; however, infectious diseases to which adolescents are susceptible are often preventable with vaccines. Beyond these concerns, there is a lack of knowledge regarding adolescent vaccination and disease risk among parents and adolescents, which can contribute to low vaccine uptake. Promising efforts have been made to improve adolescent vaccination by programs with motivational drivers and comprehensive communication with the public. In May 2017, a multidisciplinary group of experts met in Amsterdam, Netherlands, to discuss adolescent vaccine uptake, as part of an educational initiative called the Advancing Adolescent Health Spring Forum. This article presents consensus opinions resulting from the meeting, which pertain to the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases among adolescents, reasons for low vaccine uptake, and common characteristics of successful strategies for improving adolescent vaccination.Conclusion: There is an urgent "call to action," particularly targeting healthcare providers and public health authorities, for the prioritization of adolescent vaccination as a necessary element of preventive healthcare in this age group.What is Known:• Despite increased risk of certain infectious diseases, adolescent vaccination uptake remains low.What is New:• Barriers to adolescent vaccine uptake include lack of information regarding vaccines and disease risk, health system inadequacies, and insufficient healthcare follow-up.• Successful efforts to improve adolescent vaccine uptake need cohesive leadership and involvement of multiple stakeholders, as well as youth-friendly messaging; healthcare providers and policymakers should prioritize adolescent vaccination and implement proven program strategies to improve adolescent health worldwide.

Keywords: Adolescence; Immunization; Preventive healthcare; Vaccination; Vaccine-preventable diseases.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors received honoraria, paid either to themselves or to their institutions, from Pfizer for participation in and/or travel to the Advancing Adolescent Health Spring Forum. In addition, CA has received honoraria for lecturing and/or as a member of advisory boards from MSD, Pfizer, and Sanofi Pasteur. JD-D has received honoraria from Sanofi Pasteur, Pfizer, and GSK for board membership and lectures, paid both to him and his institution, and has grants or pending grants from MSD awarded to his institution. EE has received honoraria as a past member of an IDMC for HPV vaccine from GSK. FR has been a speaker on industry-sponsored symposia organized by Pfizer and MSD and a member of advisory boards organized by Pfizer and GSK, with honoraria paid to Associação de Saúde Infantil de Coimbra (ASIC), and has an unrestricted research grant from Pfizer awarded to Associação de Saúde Infantil de Coimbra (ASIC). The honorarium for FR’s participation in the Advancing Adolescent Health Spring Forum was paid to Associação de Saúde Infantil de Coimbra (ASIC). SNF’s employers (University and Hospital) have received honoraria for his participation in advisory boards organized by vaccine and antimicrobial agent manufacturers (including Pfizer), and for his participation as a speaker in an industry-sponsored symposium (Pfizer); the University or Hospital has also received grants or pending grants for SNF’s role as a principal investigator for contract commercial clinical trials for multiple pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, and as a principal investigator for an investigator-led clinical study funded by Pfizer. AK has no additional disclosures. GSM has been an investigator, on behalf of his institution, on clinical trials funded by GSK, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi Pasteur, and Seqirus, and he has received honoraria from these companies for service on advisory boards. He has also received honoraria from Pfizer and Sanofi for non-branded presentations. TFS has received honoraria from Pfizer, Sanofi Pasteur, and Biogen for lecturing and from GSK and Pfizer as a member of advisory boards, and has received honoraria from GSK and Pfizer for conducting clinical vaccine trials. CWO has received honoraria for lecturing and/or as a member of advisory boards from AstraZeneca, Baxter, GSK, Medimmune, MSD, Pfizer, Sanofi Pasteur, and Seqirus.

References

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