WP1 report on the retrospective study estimates the burden of diseases of Pneumococcal Pneumonia and Invasive E. coli in older adults covering incidence, recurrence, and mortality rates, DALY, YLL and YLD. A prospective multisite, multi-country longitudinal case control study in France, Germany, Italy and Spain found reduced functioning in patients hospitalised for ID than in controls at discharge; however, there is no differences in HRQOL, frailty, and functioning between groups, 6 months after discharge. This suggested that the hospitalisation, rather than the ID, affects these outcomes.
The WP2 clinical vaccine study, antibody data analysis showed lower antibody concentrations in older adults following primary Pneumococcal and SARS-CoV2 mRNA vaccination, compared to young adults. T-cell responses after vaccination showed age-related differences in the percentage of donors with a detectable increase in influenza-specific T cells at day 7 and lower (poly)functionality.
A novel metric of immune perturbation that associates with vaccine immune response was developed and validated and 4 serum biomarkers that associate with age-corrected frailty were identified.
WP3 inventoried different blocks of information on available economic models, target population heterogeneity, identification of hot spots of infected aging adults and specific preventative interventions. WP3 focused on an integrated gap-analysis to identify the precise approach in the development of our economic assessment. Static, and dynamic compartment models were developed and a country scoring tool was build that can measure the prevention implementation. Data was collected to create a contact matrix in older adults. Furthermore, the age-structured model and the transferability of our models was developed. Our work emphasizes the critical importance of addressing heterogeneity across population characteristics, methodologies, evidence bases, and vaccination strategies.
WP4 undertook formative research to (1) understand the needs of older adults on vaccination, (2) deepen the understanding of knowledge gaps of HCPs involved in vaccination of older adults, (3) visualise and analyse the network of HCPs providing older adult care, (4) synthesise the knowledge needs, preferred formats and delivery channels to improve education on vaccines and vaccine preventable diseases and (5) develop the content and framework for educational interventions. The framework displays newly created materials, links to data sources on vaccines and vaccine preventable diseases, and training resources.
