Adult Immunization Board: A platform to provide guidelines for implementation of adult immunization

Abstract Background Several organizations, including governments, (inter)national public health organizations and vaccine manufactures are currently considering how adult immunization can be further improved to increase health impact and promote a lifelong approach to vaccination. Despite many organizations thinking about ways to improve adult immunization, there is currently no multidisciplinary discussion platform focusing on this topic at the European level. Therefore, a group of experts in the field of adult immunization established the Adult Immunization Board (AIB). Methods AIB is established with the aim of contributing to the reduction of the impact of vaccine-preventable infections and diseases in European adults. AIB works by organizing 2 meetings per year: 1) a technical meeting to discuss specific technical aspects on adult immunization with subject-matter experts, and 2) a country meeting to discuss country specific aspects of adult immunization together with local experts. Results In April 2023 and 2024 the AIB organized its first technical meetings on “Assessing the health burden of vaccine-preventable infections in European Adults (2023)” and “Strategies for introducing and implementing vaccines for adults into National Immunization Programs in Europe (2024)”. In December 2023, the AIB organized its first country meeting in Italy with local experts to learn out best practices in adult immunization and address aspects to improve. Conclusions AIB is a platform that brings together the different key European stakeholders in adult immunization to effectively contribute towards the implementation and optimization of adult immunization programs in Europe. Key messages • Continued efforts to promote research, implementation, awareness, accessibility, and vaccine uptake are crucial to mitigate the burden of (future) infectious diseases in the adult population. • The AIB represents a significant step towards bolstering adult immunization efforts in the EU.