Vaccinations and Healthy Ageing: How to Rise to the Challenge Following a Life-Course Vaccination Approach
Francesca Scognamiglio,
Maria Pia Fantini,
Chiara Reno,
Marco Montalti,
Zeno Di Valerio,
Giorgia Soldà,
Aurelia Salussolia,
Giusy La Fauci,
Angelo Capodici,
Davide Gori
Affiliations
Francesca Scognamiglio
School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Public Health and Medical Statistics, University of Bologna, Via San Giacomo 12, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Maria Pia Fantini
Unit of Hygiene, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Public Health and Medical Statistics, University of Bologna, Via San Giacomo 12, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Chiara Reno
School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Public Health and Medical Statistics, University of Bologna, Via San Giacomo 12, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Marco Montalti
School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Public Health and Medical Statistics, University of Bologna, Via San Giacomo 12, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Zeno Di Valerio
School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Public Health and Medical Statistics, University of Bologna, Via San Giacomo 12, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Giorgia Soldà
School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Public Health and Medical Statistics, University of Bologna, Via San Giacomo 12, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Aurelia Salussolia
School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Public Health and Medical Statistics, University of Bologna, Via San Giacomo 12, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Giusy La Fauci
School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Public Health and Medical Statistics, University of Bologna, Via San Giacomo 12, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Angelo Capodici
School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Public Health and Medical Statistics, University of Bologna, Via San Giacomo 12, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Davide Gori
Unit of Hygiene, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Public Health and Medical Statistics, University of Bologna, Via San Giacomo 12, 40126 Bologna, Italy
In the context of an ageing population, one of the major Public Health goals is to promote healthy ageing. To rise to this challenge, rethinking conventional prevention paradigms and implementing them with vaccination at all stages of life is necessary. Indeed, vaccinations are able to both prevent pathogen specific diseases and all their downstream effects and to increase overall immune system plasticity and resilience. Our aim is to discuss the obstacles and opportunities in pursuing a “life-course vaccination approach” and to highlight the role of vaccines in healthy ageing. In doing so, we address the close connections between immunology and vaccinology advances and introduce the novel concept of immune fitness. Finally, we conclude that even though vaccinology is making giant steps towards tailored vaccination strategies, more studies are needed to investigate this topic.
