Optimizing the Adult Vaccination Journey in Belgium

challenge hosted by MSD and GSK

When industry players come together for a common goal

 MSD  and  GSK , two leading pharmaceutical companies, have joined forces at Hack Healthcare 2024 to achieve a shared mission: enhancing the adult vaccination journey in Belgium. Through the challenge “Optimizing the Adult Vaccination Journey in Belgium”, MSD and GSK aim to transform the vaccination landscape, ensuring better health outcomes for adults by boosting prevention efforts and increasing access to vital vaccination information.

Hack Healthcare is a neutral, co-creative environment where industry leaders, innovators, and healthcare professionals come together to develop innovative solutions for the healthcare ecosystem.

The user experience for adult vaccination in Belgium is far from ideal. Imagine not knowing which vaccines are available to you, the ones you’ve received in recent years, or how and where to get vaccinated. This scenario is a reality for many adults in Belgium, and it’s a challenge we must address.

💉The challenge

There are significant disparities in vaccination rates between adults and children in Belgium. While the vaccination system for children is well-organized and often linked to the education system, adult vaccination is not proactively followed up. Information is dispersed across various sources, and the route to vaccination is complex for both patients and healthcare professionals.

Adults in Belgium face numerous obstacles when it comes to vaccination:

• No clear vaccination calendars
• Conflicting advice
• No incentives for general practitioners to follow up
• Lack of digital tools for tracking vaccination status

This situation leaves adults without structured guidance, making it difficult to follow up on their vaccinations. How can we better support people in managing their vaccinations, reminding them about upcoming ones, and informing them about ideal schedules and reimbursement schemes?

🤝Collaborative efforts to tackle a common challenge

Recognizing these issues, MSD and GSK have joined forces to address the challenge of optimizing the adult vaccination journey in Belgium. This collaboration exemplifies how two key players in the healthcare ecosystem can work together to tackle a complex issue for the common good.

Real-World problems we face

• Different perceptions on vaccination: There is a significant difference in the perception of the need to vaccinate older adults versus young children, resulting in lower vaccination rates among adults. [2]
• Increased susceptibility in older adults: As the immune system deteriorates with age, older adults become more vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases. [3]
• Rising healthcare costs: Ageing-related expenditure in Belgium is projected to increase by 3.6% of GDP by 2040. [4]
• Vaccine hesitancy and fatigue: Increasing vaccine hesitancy and fatigue contribute to lower vaccination rates. [5,6]
• Insufficient budget for prevention: The budget for prevention is only 1.9% of the total healthcare budget, below the European average of 2.5%, with the WHO recommending 5%. [1]
• Health impact: Annually, pneumococcal disease causes approximately 5,800 hospitalizations and 430 deaths (12% in the 65+ age group) in Belgium. [7,8] Additionally, 2-8% of the population is affected by influenza-like illness each year, with 1 in 1,000 cases requiring hospitalization. [9]
• Lack of awareness: Many adults are unaware of their eligibility for certain vaccines due to a lack of structured information systems. [10]

Exploring opportunities for innovative solutions

There are several avenues to enhance the adult vaccination journey:

• Digital access: Develop easy digital access for the public and healthcare providers to vaccination calendars and status for all available vaccines.
• Awareness tools: Create tools to raise awareness about preventive vaccination at certain ages or when confronted with specific risks (e.g., co-morbidity, cancer, travel).
• Preventive mindset: Encourage healthcare professionals to adopt a preventive mindset instead of a curative one.
• Alternative vaccination sites: Expand the use of alternative sites for vaccination, such as pharmacies and permanent vaccination centers.
  During the 2023-24 flu season, Belgian pharmacists delivered over 3.8 million doses of flu vaccines, administering nearly 15% of them directly.
• Information campaigns: Develop adult vaccination schemes or websites with comprehensive government information campaigns.
• Vaccination recording systems: Utilize existing systems to record vaccinations and inform the eligible population.

REFERENCES

[1] OECD Data Exlorer
[2] Studie van de vaccinatiegraad in Vlaanderen 2020
[3] Challenges in the Vaccination of the Elderly and Strategies for Improvement
[4] Demografische vooruitzichten 2021-2070: 1,3 miljoen inwoners meer tegen 2070, vergeleken met 1,5 miljoen in de afgelopen 30 jaar. De coronacrisis heeft geen invloed op deze groei
[5] Sallam M. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy worldwide: a concise systematic review of vaccine acceptance rates. Vaccines (Basel) 9, 160 (2021).
[6] Su, Z., Cheshmehzangi, A., McDonnell, D., da Veiga, C. P. & Xiang, Y.-T. Mind the ‘vaccine fatigue’. Front. Immunol. 13, 839433 (2022)
[7] Federaal Kenniscentrum voor Gezondheidszorg. Welke pneumokokkenvaccinatie bij ouderen? KCE; 2016 Rapport 274As. Last access: 10/2022
[8] Hoge Gezondheidsraad. Vaccinatie tegen pneumokokken (volwassenen). Brussel: HGR; 2022. Advies nr 9674. Last access: 10/2022
[9] Sciensano’s influenza bulletin
[10] Wu, L.A., Kanitz, E., Crumly, J. et al. Adult immunization policies in advanced economies: vaccination recommendations, financing, and vaccination coverage. Int J Public Health 58, 865–874 (2013).