scholarly journals Differences in national influenza vaccination policies across the European Union, Norway and Iceland 2008-2009

2010 ◽  
Vol 15 (44) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Mereckiene ◽  
S Cotter ◽  
F D'Ancona ◽  
C Giambi ◽  
A Nicoll ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Vaccination Coverage ◽  
Seasonal Influenza ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
World Health ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Older Adult Population

In 2009 the second cross-sectional web-based survey was undertaken by the Vaccine European New Integrated Collaboration Effort (VENICE) project across 27 European Union (EU) member states (MS), Norway and Iceland (n=29) to determine changes in official national seasonal influenza vaccination policies since a survey undertaken in 2008 and to compare the estimates of vaccination coverage between countries using data obtained from both surveys. Of 27 responding countries, all recommended vaccination against seasonal influenza to the older adult population. Six countries recommended vaccination of children aged between six months and <18 years old. Most countries recommended influenza vaccination for those individuals with chronic medical conditions. Recommendations for vaccination of healthcare workers (HCW) in various settings existed in most, but not all countries. Staff in hospitals and long-term care facilities were recommended vaccination in 23 countries, and staff in out-patient clinics in 22 countries. In the 2009 survey, the reported national estimates on vaccine coverage varied by country and risk group, ranging from 1.1% - 82.6% for the older adult population; to between 32.9% -71.7% for clinical risk groups; and from 13.4% -89.4% for HCW. Many countries that recommend the influenza vaccination do not monitor the coverage in risk groups. In 2008 and 2009 most countries recommended influenza vaccination for the main risk groups. Hovewer, despite general consensus and recommendations for vaccination of high risk groups many countries do not achieve high coverage in these groups. The reported vaccination coverage still needs to be improved in order to achieve EU and World Health Organization goals.

scholarly journals Paramyxovirus Outbreak in a Long-Term Care Facility: The Challenges of Implementing Infection Control Practices in a Congregate Setting

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 399-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Schaeffer Spires ◽  
H. Keipp Talbot ◽  
Carolyn A. Pope ◽  
Thomas R. Talbot
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
First Case ◽  
Older Adult Population

OBJECTIVEWe report an outbreak of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections in a dementia care ward containing 2 separately locked units (A and B) to heighten awareness of these pathogens in the older adult population and highlight some of the infection prevention challenges faced during a noninfluenza respiratory viral outbreak in a congregate setting.METHODSCases were defined by the presence of new signs or symptoms that included (1) a single oral temperature ≥ 37.8°C (100.0°F) and (2) the presence of at least 2 of the following symptoms: cough, dyspnea, rhinorrhea, hoarseness, congestion, fatigue, and malaise. Attempted infection-control measures included cohorting patients and staff, empiric isolation precautions, and cessation of group activities. Available nasopharyngeal swab specimens were sent to the Tennessee Department of Health for identification by rT-PCR testing.RESULTSWe identified 30 of the 41 (73%) residents as cases over this 16-day outbreak. Due to high numbers of sick personnel, we were unable to cohort staff to 1 unit. Unit B developed its first case 8 days after infection control measures were implemented. Of the 14 cases with available specimens, 6 patients tested positive for RSV-B, 7 for HMPV and 1 patient test positive for influenza A. Overall, 15 cases (50%) required transfer to acute care facilities; 10 of these patients (34%) had chest x-ray confirmed pulmonary infiltrates; and 5 residents (17%) died.CONCLUSIONSThis case report highlights the importance of RSV and HMPV in causing substantial disease in the older adult population and highlights the challenges in preventing transmission of these viruses.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:399–404

scholarly journals Seasonal influenza immunisation in Europe. Overview of recommendations and vaccination coverage for three seasons: pre-pandemic (2008/09), pandemic (2009/10) and post-pandemic (2010/11)

2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (16) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Mereckiene ◽  
S Cotter ◽  
A Nicoll ◽  
P Lopalco ◽  
T Noori ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Vaccination Coverage ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Seasonal Influenza ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
European Economic Area ◽  
Clinical Risk ◽  
The Impact

Since 2008, annual surveys of influenza vaccination policies, practices and coverage have been undertaken in 29 European Union (EU)/ European Economic Area (EEA) countries. After 2009, this monitored the impact of European Council recommendation to increase vaccination coverage to 75% among risk groups. This paper summarises the results of three seasonal influenza seasons: 2008/09, 2009/10 and 2010/11. In 2008/09, 27/29 countries completed the survey; in 2009/10 and 2010/11, 28/29 completed it. All or almost all countries recommended vaccination of older people (defined as those aged ≥50, ≥55, ≥59, ≥60 or ≥65 years), and people aged ≥6 months with clinical risk and healthcare workers. A total of 23 countries provided vaccination coverage data for older people, but only 7 and 10 had data for the clinical risk groups and healthcare workers, respectively. The number of countries recommending vaccination for some or all pregnant women increased from 10 in 2008/09 to 22 in 2010/11. Only three countries could report coverage among pregnant women. Seasonal influenza vaccination coverage during and after the pandemic season in older people and clinical groups remained unchanged in countries with higher coverage. However, small decreases were seen in most countries during this period. The results of the surveys indicate that most EU/EEA countries recommend influenza vaccination for the main target groups; however, only a few countries have achieved the target of 75% coverage among risk groups. Coverage among healthcare workers remained low.

scholarly journals In the Eye of the COVID-19 Storm: An Ethical Analysis on Aging, End of Life, and Recovery

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Al Giwa
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Elder Abuse ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Multiple Chronic Conditions ◽  
Geriatric Population ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Medical Response ◽  
Older Adult Population

Early into the COVID pandemic, epidemiologists and infectious disease experts warned that older adults were among those most vulnerable to the disease, as multiple studies from China, Italy, Washington State, and New York City showed that age greater than 65 significantly increased the risk of severe disease and/or death from the novel 2019 coronavirus. Centers for Disease Control data through June 2020 show that nearly 81% of deaths due to COVID-19 are of people 65 years of age and older. These breakdowns indicate that, primarily, persons with advanced age and most, often, those with multiple chronic conditions are those who have died. The effects of the virus led to public health measures aimed at reducing exposures of older people and other vulnerable populations. The disease was amplified in rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living centers, group homes, and other long-term care facilities serving a primarily geriatric population. Even as parts of the country are opening up, the death toll is still climbing and affecting the older adult population disproportionately. Duty to care, autonomy and self-determination, non-judgmental regard, justice, and futility are all significant ethical principles and constructs that have arisen in the intense and real-time application of healthcare as we continue to face the present global pandemic. We use an ethical lens to examine the medical response of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the older adult population and explore if society is doing enough to protect older adults, or rather, engaging in and furthering collective and systematic elder abuse.

An age-friendly city? LGBTQ and frail older adults

2021 ◽  
pp. 89-108
Author(s):  
Lindsay Herman ◽  
Ryan Walker ◽  
Mark W. Rosenberg
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Careful Consideration ◽  
World Health ◽  
Daily Experience ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Aging Infrastructure ◽  
Older Adult Population

This chapter discusses the aging demographic in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and across Canada that is changing the way communities function. It examines the intersection of age and diversity that compound the daily experience of aging, which subject older adults to a 'double jeopardy' in accessing important spaces, services, and opportunities for health and wellbeing. It also mentions age-friendly community development, popularized by the World Health Organization's Age-Friendly Cities Guide, which encompasses an approach to the physical, social, and political fabric of cities and includes a careful consideration of older-adult lived experience. The chapter highlights the age-friendly development theory, which considers the social capital as a foundational component to healthy and sustainable aging infrastructure. It analyzes the experiences of two of the most at-risk or isolated communities among the overall older adult population in Saskatoon: the members of the LGBTQ community, and those experiencing physical or cognitive frailty.

New micro-mobilities and aging in the suburbs

2021 ◽  
pp. 115-132
Author(s):  
Jennifer Dean ◽  
Edward Donato
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
World Health ◽  
Age In Place ◽  
Global Trend ◽  
Aging Populations ◽  
Older Adult Population ◽  
Global Population

This chapter discusses the World Health Organization's (WHO) launch of the Age-Friendly Cities (AFCs) program as a response to the global trend towards aging populations and increasing urbanization. It outlines the WHO's anticipation that by 2050, approximately 22 percent of the global population will be over the age of 60 years, with the majority residing in sub/urban areas. It examines the intensity of older adults that will be felt in small and mid-sized cities where the mean older adult dependency ratio will grow by 103 percent and 90 percent respectfully by 2036. The chapter considers the certainty of demographic change and the heterogeneity of the older adult population, which acquires a time-sensitive need to understand how to support older adults who desire to age in place or live safely and independently in their existing communities. It looks at academic literature that links built environments and human health.

scholarly journals Seasonal influenza vaccination: from hesitancy to social norm

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 902
Author(s):  
Asif Parvez Malik ◽  
Sanjeewa Sumathipala
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Seasonal Influenza ◽  
Social Norm ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Vaccine Coverage ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
World Health

Seasonal influenza is of the most globally burdening vaccine-preventable diseases, infecting 3-5 billion people annually and according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) resulting in 250,000 to 500,000 deaths worldwide. Vaccination against influenza and all respiratory infections carries greater emphasis in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic. With added pressure on healthcare systems due to the coronavirus, Qatar is one country that is keen to emphasise the importance of influenza vaccination to prevent potential co-infection causing severe disease especially in high-risk groups. Currently seasonal influenza vaccines protect against 3 or 4 strains with revised data from the WHO twice yearly due to the changing natures of strains helping to maximise efficacy of the vaccines. It is recommended for specific high-risk groups to be prioritised for vaccination, including pregnant women, the elderly, children above 6 months of age, patients with chronic conditions as well as front line healthcare workers with risk of exposure. However, uptake of the vaccine remains low and contributes significantly to the burden of the disease. Barriers to vaccine uptake can be physical, such as unhealthy lifestyles, psychological, such as perception of disease as low-risk, contextual, such as lack of access to vaccinations, or sociodemographic, such as living alone. Vaccine coverage can be increased by knowledge of these barriers and how to address them. The physical barriers highlight the need to support behavioural change in lifestyle in order to increase vaccine uptake. Psychological barriers, usually due to misconceptions, can be addressed with education through public health campaigns and interactions between health professionals and patients. This education is not just a need for patients but also healthcare workers. It is up to healthcare providers and contractors to find ways of addressing contextual and sociodemographic barriers by increasing access to vaccination whether through transport, or home–care etc. A key barrier of those mentioned to vaccination is a lack of knowledge which needs to be addressed though positive discussions about the health benefits of immunisation as well as the traditional idea of disease-risk prevention. Addressing the above barriers will help to increase vaccine uptake, and produce health-conscientious societies where vaccination becomes a social norm.

Dental fear and anxiety in an older adult population

1991 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 120-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Locker ◽  
Andree Liddell ◽  
David Burman
Keyword(s):  
Older Adult ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Dental Fear ◽  
Fear And Anxiety ◽  
Older Adult Population

scholarly journals Title I: Modernizing Definitions and Programs Under the Administration on Aging

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 714-715
Author(s):  
Marie Gualtieri
Keyword(s):  
Title I ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Older Americans ◽  
Aging Society ◽  
Program Adaptation ◽  
Older Americans Act ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Older Adult Population

Abstract The recent reauthorization of the Older Americans Act adds language and definitions to current issues facing the aging population. Specifically, Title I includes definitions related to program adaptation and coordination, workforce and long-term care issues, nutrition and social isolation, as well as family caregivers. Different from the last authorization, these definitions span beyond the individual experience to include other entities impacted by an aging society, such as the workforce and families. Overall, the Title I reauthorization seeks to modernize policy to reflect the current influx of the older adult population and its consequences.

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