Vaccines and special-risk population groups

While vaccines are recommended for almost everyone, there are specific groups of people who may be particularly vulnerable to severe forms of vaccine-preventable diseases. Their health conditions may increase the risk of developing complications requiring hospitalisation, developing secondary illnesses or even dying. Therefore, it is imperative to actively promote vaccination to those groups to ensure that they receive all the vaccines that are suitable for their age and clinical situation. Pharmacists can play an important role in promoting and advocating vaccination to these groups by leveraging their accessibility, expertise and trust by the population. Their frequent interactions with the public provide valuable opportunities to raise awareness of the importance of vaccination.

Older adults

This video highlights the main benefits of vaccination, and which vaccines are recommended for older adults.

30 November 2022

Speaker: Jean-Pierre Michel, Honorary Professor of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland

Jean-Pierre Michel was professor of medicine and chairman of the academic geriatric department at Geneva University Hospitals until 2011. He is a former president of the European Geriatric Medicine Society, and acted as World Health Organization expert on the ageing and life course programme.

He is a member of the French Academy of Medicine and a foreign member of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Spain.