"We are talking about the creation and management of a National Vaccination Program for adults that does not exist" in Portugal, the president of the Portuguese Society of Public Health (SPSP), Francisco George, told Lusa today.

The former director-general of Health is one of the coordinators of the +Longevity project, a `think tank´ launched by the NOVA Center for Global Health, an applied research laboratory of the NOVA Information Management School (NOVA IMS).

"First of all, we need to recognize that many Portuguese people die prematurely. In 2023, in proportional terms, 20% of those who died were under 70 years old", stressed Francisco George.

According to Francisco George, a significant part of the causes that anticipate the end of life are due to infectious diseases, which are now, unlike in the past, preventable by vaccination, especially with new vaccines with very recent technologies and which have, in addition to confirmed safety, an important protective function.

"There is a window of opportunity here, through technological advances in vaccine preparation, to protect adults and reduce premature mortality and increasingly allow us to live longer and better", explained the president of the SPSP.

According to the former head of the Directorate-General of Health, the expenses associated with the acquisition of these vaccines would always be offset by the reduction in costs related to cases of disease, hospitalization and intensive care.

This group of experts is focusing its attention, in particular, on respiratory diseases that can evolve very seriously in those who are not vaccinated, such as flu, pneumonia and infections by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

"Vaccination against the flu, either with the classic vaccine or, in the elderly, with the so-called high-dose vaccine, is very effective in preventing complications that result in hospital admission and admission to intensive care", said one of the coordinators of +Longevity.

The same is true, according to Francisco George, in relation to pneumonia, arguing that there are currently "excellent vaccines that are indicated in adults to prevent problems due to bacterial pneumonia".

"But there are also other respiratory infections, such as the one caused by the respiratory syncytial virus, which have vaccines that are very effective", assured the doctor.

The work that is being carried out at this center of the Universidade Nova brings together experts from various specialties, such as medicine, epidemiology and pharmaceutical sciences, among others, "in order to understand, without further expenditure for the State Budget, what can be done to prolong and improve the lives of the Portuguese", he said.

"We have excellent experience, since 1965, with the National Vaccination Program - the calendar for children - but now we are talking about adults", stressed Francisco George, adding that this is a scientifically based reflection with the aim of proposing a new program to the Ministry of Health.

The group of experts is analyzing comparative data, in terms of action and results, in several European countries and in the United States of America.

"The Portuguese population, unlike what happens in other European countries, such as France and Italy, generally adheres to vaccination programs", considered the president of the association, for whom the central objective of this work is to contribute to the population "living longer, but also better" throughout life.

According to the indicators released by NOVA IMS, Portugal is the sixth OECD country with the highest average life expectancy after 65 years, but it is in the fourth worst position if the years of healthy life are considered.

Leia Também: Peritos sugerem vacinação contra vírus das bronquiolites e mudanças no boletim (Portuguese version)