The Vietnam Preventive Medicine Association, in collaboration with Pfizer Vietnam, successfully organized the scientific conference "The Lifelong Immunization Journey - A Multidimensional Perspective on Opportunities and Challenges" over two days, April 4–5, 2026, in Quy Nhơn, Gia Lai, Vietnam. The conference brought together more than 400 domestic and international healthcare experts from preventive medicine, epidemiology, pediatrics, internal medicine, and obstetrics and gynecology to review current data, share real‑world experience, and discuss prevention‑oriented approaches tailored to different stages of the human lifespan.
In the context of continuously evolving disease patterns and epidemiology, the risk of infectious diseases is increasingly evident across multiple stages of life—from early childhood and adulthood to older age, particularly among populations with underlying medical conditions. This reality highlights the growing need for a life‑course approach to prevention, one that recognizes differing health risks and care needs by age group and risk profile.
Professor Phan Trọng Lân, MD, PhD, Director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, stated: "As both global and domestic epidemiology undergo significant changes—from shifts in disease patterns by age and risk group to challenges facing healthcare systems—preventive approaches need to be embedded within a comprehensive strategy grounded in epidemiological data, scientific evidence, and international experience. In this context, the concept of ‘lifelong immunization’ has increasingly gained attention as a life‑course framework to enhance community health protection."
Professor Phan Trọng Lân, MD, PhD, Director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology
With a long‑term commitment to partnering with the healthcare community, Pfizer Vietnam participated in the conference as a scientific partner, contributing to facilitate professional exchange, sharing international experience, and providing updated scientific information to support clinical practice—thereby helping healthcare professionals access knowledge in a structured manner aligned with the Vietnamese healthcare context.
Two ends of the lifespan — two high‑risk groups facing infectious diseases
One of the most in‑depth discussions at the conference focused on the burden of infectious diseases disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations that have not yet been adequately protected through proactive prevention.
Vietnam is entering a phase of rapid population aging, accompanied by shifting healthcare needs—particularly among older adults and individuals with underlying conditions. Aging is associated with physiological decline and immunosenescence, increasing susceptibility to infectious diseases, cancer, and autoimmune disorders.
Associate Professor Lê Khắc Bảo, MD, PhD, Deputy Director of University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City, noted: "Older adults, particularly those aged 65 and above, are more susceptible to respiratory infections with higher severity and mortality risks. In addition, respiratory infections not only cause acute illness but can exacerbate chronic diseases; co‑infections involving viruses and bacteria may further worsen clinical outcomes and increase mortality risk. Therefore, proactive prevention should be carefully considered in this population."
From a public health perspective, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized that preventive measures—including immunization programs—can help reduce infection risk and support efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance by lowering unnecessary antibiotic use.
However, real‑world implementation in Vietnam still falls significantly short of actual needs. A 2024 survey at a preventive care site in Hanoi found that only 11.5% of adults had received pneumococcal prevention. According to a 2023 Ministry of Health survey, fewer than 6% of older adults receive annual influenza prevention, largely due to low-risk perception and limited proactive healthcare counseling.
Sharing insights from Thailand, Professor Sasisopin Kiertiburanakul (Professor, MD, MHS of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibol Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand) highlighted real‑world evidence that offers relevant regional reference, particularly given similarities in population aging trends and chronic disease burden between Vietnam and Thailand: "A 2024 real‑world study in Thailand involving 825 patients showed that pneumococcal prevention achieved approximately 73.3% effectiveness in preventing lower respiratory tract infections among adults aged 60 years and older, even though the majority had underlying medical conditions. These findings provide useful reference data for discussions concerning older adults and high‑risk populations."
Professor Sasisopin Kiertiburanakul (Professor, MD, MHS of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibol Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand)
Globally, active immunization is associated with protection against approximately 30 infectious diseases and helps prevent an estimated 5 million deaths annually, underscoring the importance of investment in preventive strategies to improve population health outcomes.
If risk among older adults is largely linked to chronic conditions and immune aging, infants and young children represent the other vulnerable end of the lifespan, with increased susceptibility to common respiratory pathogens due to their immature immune systems. This reinforces the need to view prevention as a journey across the lifespan, rather than focusing on individual diseases in isolation.
Worldwide, lower respiratory tract infections caused by viral and bacterial pathogens remain among the leading causes of mortality. In 2021, an estimated 2.18 million deaths (excluding COVID‑19) were reported globally, with Streptococcus pneumoniae being a major contributing pathogen. In children, pneumonia and pneumococcal infections remain a significant threat, particularly among younger age groups. In 2023, approximately 2.5 million pneumonia‑related deaths were recorded globally, with pneumococcus identified as the leading cause. An estimated 197,000 deaths annually occur in children under five, while neonatal mortality related to severe bacterial infections remains substantial.
In addition, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is one of the most common causes of acute lower respiratory tract infections in infants and young children. Nearly all children are infected with RSV by the age of two. Notably, several studies indicate that a large proportion of RSV‑related hospitalizations occur in full‑term, otherwise healthy infants. A 2025 meta‑analysis in the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia regions reported a high RSV prevalence in Vietnam (35.5%), second only to Myanmar and New Zealand, with RSV circulating year‑round.
Professor Nguyễn Viết Tiến, MD, PhD, President of the Vietnam Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology, commented: "RSV is a common respiratory pathogen in infants and can lead to long‑term sequelae such as asthma and recurrent wheezing, with hospitalization rates five to sixteen times higher than influenza. Most hospitalized cases occur in infants aged 0–6 months, including those born full‑term and previously healthy. RSV not only imposes a significant disease burden but also places substantial financial strain on families and healthcare systems. These observations underscore the importance of early risk recognition and enhanced scientific communication with healthcare professionals, including during pregnancy, as part of a life‑course preventive approach."
Professor Nguyễn Viết Tiến, MD, PhD, President of the Vietnam Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Across diverse risk groups—including older adults, individuals with chronic conditions, and infants—the concept of lifelong immunization was highlighted as a life‑course preventive framework, enabling healthcare professionals to systematically integrate epidemiological data, clinical practice, and international experience in ways that align with age‑ and risk‑specific health needs.
Hesitancy toward preventive measures: a "soft" barrier with major impact
Another key topic addressed at the conference was hesitancy toward preventive interventions. Low preventive uptake among older adults in Vietnam is not solely due to service availability; psychological, perceptual, and information‑access barriers remain inadequately addressed by the healthcare system.
Professor Jana Shaw (MD, MPH, Professor of Pediatrics Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA) emphasized that hesitancy in proactive vaccination decisions is a major contributor to low uptake: "Hesitancy does not necessarily mean refusal; it often reflects uncertainty or delay despite service availability. Contributing factors include beliefs, perception of disease risk and severity, safety of the intervention, as well as barriers related to access and cost. Healthcare professionals play a critical role by listening empathetically, communicating risks and benefits with clarity and transparency, and providing personalized counseling and support - key elements in building trust and confidence. That individualized support is what builds trust and helps turn a patient's intention into action.
Experts discuss at the conference
Drawing on epidemiological, clinical, and international perspectives, conference experts reached a consensus that a life‑course prevention approach offers tangible value in the context of evolving healthcare needs. A comprehensive lifelong immunization journey enables systematic risk assessment by age and population group, while placing information, healthcare professionals, and interdisciplinary collaboration at the center of modern preventive healthcare.
