On March 9, 2022, Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) held a meeting of “Next Actions to Ensure the Development and Implementation of Immunization and Vaccine Policies Working Group 1 – The Life Course Approach.”

Among life stages including infancy, early childhood, childhood, puberty, adolescence, adulthood, and old age, Japan’s immunization and vaccination policies have centered on infancy, early childhood, and childhood. These policies have contributed to better health and quality of life for the public. However, as demonstrated by a growing body of global scientific evidence, a life course approach to vaccination which takes every life stage into account not only helps to maintain public health, but also generates socioeconomic benefits. Broader vaccination coverage is also likely to result in better control of communicable diseases and stronger protection of unvaccinated individuals.

At this meeting, we deepened the discussion on issues and next steps for transitioning to a life course approach in immunization and vaccination policies.

To prevent the potential spread of COVID-19, this meeting was held online using a remote conferencing system.

■ 2021 Advisory Board Working Group 1  (Titles omitted; in Japanese alphabetical order by last name)

Members:

• Kyoko Ama (Representative, Children and Healthcare Project)
• Hidenori Arai (President, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology; Vice President, The Japan Geriatrics Society)
• Kanako Inaba (Physician, M.D., and specialist in obstetrics and gynecology; Representative, Minpapi! Let’s Learn About HPV Project; Specialist in charge of obstetrics and gynecology, Corowakun Supporters; Vice President, Medical Femtec Consortium, Pro Picker, NewsPicks)
• Satoshi Iwata (Department of Infectious Diseases, National Cancer Center Hospital Visiting Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases, Keio University School of Medicine Chairperson, The Expert Council on Promotion of Vaccination)
• Kazunori Oishi (Chief, Toyama Institute of Health)
• Yoko Katakura (Director, Policy and Public Affairs Department, Policy and Public Affairs Division, Pfizer Japan Inc.)
• Hideaki Nagai (Director, Department of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo National Hospital, National Hospital Organization)
• Daisuke Watanabe (Professor, Department of Dermatology, Aichi Medical University)

MC/Moderator:

• Joji Sugawara (Manager, Health and Global Policy Institute)

■Related contents held as part of the project

– November 4, 2021 The First Meeting of Working Group 5 on Vaccine Research and Development, “Next Actions for the Development and Implementation of Immunization and Vaccination Policies”
– January 17, 2022 The Second Meeting of Working Group 5 on Vaccine Research and Development, “The Next Actions to Ensure the Development and Implementation of Immunization and Vaccine Policies”