IFPMA side-event at WHA79: Immunizing across the life course

Immunizing across the life course: Supporting healthy ageing, NCD management, and system resilience

Immunization across the life course is a vital yet underused strategy for strengthening health systems and supporting economic resilience as societies age and the burden of NCDs accelerates.

Older adults and people living with chronic conditions face higher risks from respiratory infections that can destabilize disease control, accelerate functional decline, and lead to avoidable hospitalizations. These health shocks also carry economic consequences—reducing labour participation, increasing long-term care needs, and adding pressure on already constrained health budgets. A life-course approach to immunization within primary health care offers a practical pathway to protect vulnerable populations, reinforce continuity of care, and advance progress toward Universal Health Coverage.

Co-organized by IFA, GAAPP, and IFPMA, this WHA79 official side event will explore how life-course immunization can strengthen PHC-led models designed to meet the needs of ageing populations and people living with NCDs. The discussion will highlight how life-course immunization can support healthier ageing, stable NCD management, and improved system efficiency at a time of tightening fiscal space and rising service demand.

The event will feature:

• Riley Sanders - Head of Government Relations & Public Affairs, GAAPP
• Dr. Yuka Sumi - Medical Officer, Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing (LHR), World Health Organization
• Lotte Steuten - Deputy Chief Executive, Office of Health Economics; former Member, Board of Directors, ISPOR
• Gregor Sneddon - Secretary General, @International Federation on Ageing
• Manuel Veguín, Head of International Relations, Institute for Older People and Social Services (IMSERSO)
• Professor Vernon Lee - Chief Executive Officer, Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA)
• David Reddy - Director General, IFPMA

This event will take place at WHO Headquarters. Access is therefore limited to participants who hold a WHA-badge (Member States, Observers, UN agencies, IGOs).

As organizers, we are able to allocate a very limited number of special event badges, which provide access exclusively for this event. To express interest, please use the registration link, by Thursday 14 May, 18:00 CET.

Please note that due to limited capacity, we are not able to accommodate all requests. Confirmation of special badges will be communicated on Friday 15 May.

The event will also be live-streamed online, you can register here.

By registering for this event, your data will be processed according to the IFPMA data privacy policy. A photographer will be present, and it is possible that photographs of you will be taken during the event and used for promotional and communication purposes.