Vaccination of seniors

In France, the national vaccination policy aims primarily infants with a schedule comprising 11 compulsory vaccinations before the age of 18 months. Beyond that, including old age, the recommendations concerning routine vaccinations are often lost sight of, with the exception of compulsory vaccinations (caregivers, soldiers, etc.). Among seniors, who represent more than 20% of the population, insufficient vaccination coverage for 4 of the most severe infectious diseases after age 65 (flu, COVID-19, pneumococcal disease and shingles) creates an increasingly heavy medical and economic burden in an aging population. For these reasons, vaccination of seniors should become a priority public health objective. Improving vaccination protection for the older adults is possible by integrating new advances in vaccinology, making the most of digital possibilities and integrating these measures into an ambitious program to maintain vaccination coverage throughout life. (c) 2023 l'Academie nationale de medecine. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.