The direct benefits from vaccines in terms of prevention of infections are well-known and have contributed to making vaccination one of the greatest medical success stories of the 20th century. However, their other benefits are lesser-known, although they are also very important.
During the meeting, some of these lesser-known benefits were presented. One significant example was the reduction of antimicrobial resistance by a decrease in infectious diseases in the population via direct and indirect (herd effect) protection. This reduces the number of circulating resistant strains and thus the prescription of antimicrobials.
Another example was the benefit of vaccines to the growing older population: it has been estimated that the number of people over 60 will double by 2050. The prevention of influenza, pneumococcal diseases, shingles and other vaccine-preventable diseases by promoting vaccination programs for this age group will contribute to healthy aging and thus result in substantial medical, societal and economic benefits, as well as preserve their quality of life. Generally, keeping populations healthy and active for longer, through vaccination, will have a positive impact on productivity and competitiveness.
During the second day of the meeting, experts discussed various initiatives to collect and provide epidemiological and safety data that could be used to develop evidence-based communication about the benefits and safety of vaccines. There is a need for new techniques and tools, such as artificial intelligence, advanced data analytics and biostatistics, to process the data generated by multiple sources.