Over the past 50 years, vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives worldwide — the equivalent of six lives every minute, every day. This is one of the greatest successes of global Public Health, based on science, trust and a simple but powerful decision: prevent to protect. It is in this context that European Immunization Week is marked, under the motto of the World Health Organization (WHO) “For every generation, vaccines work”.
Portugal is part of this success story. The National Vaccination Program (PNV) is, unquestionably, one of the most solid and effective examples of Public Health in Portugal. Thanks to it, we have eradicated or controlled diseases that have marked generations, ensuring a safer start in life for our children.
But past success cannot be a reason for complacency. On the contrary, it must be the foundation for responding to the challenges of the future. Today, we are faced with a clear reality: immunization does not end in childhood or adolescence.
In a rapidly aging country, health protection must accompany people throughout their lives. The WHO is unequivocal in stating that vaccination at all ages is essential to promote healthy aging, improve quality of life and alleviate pressure on already overburdened health systems.
Portugal is facing an accelerated demographic transition, with an increasingly elderly population and a higher prevalence of chronic diseases. This scenario places increasing pressure on the National Health Service (SUS), particularly during seasonal peaks in respiratory diseases such as influenza. In this context, prevention ceases to be an option and becomes a structuring pillar of a resilient and sustainable health system.
Protecting the adult and elderly population through immunization is not just an act of individual responsibility; is a Public Health strategy with a direct impact on reducing avoidable hospitalizations, preserving citizens’ autonomy and the country’s economic and social sustainability.
However, the progress made in recent decades is not guaranteed. The WHO itself warns that, in 2024 alone, around 20 million children around the world will have incomplete vaccination schedules, including more than 14 million who have not received any dose. In a more interconnected world, failures in prevention at any stage of life represent vulnerabilities for everyone. Protecting the population requires a continuous, coherent and sustained approach.
It is within this framework that the vision of “Immunization from 0 to 100” becomes not only pertinent, but essential. This ambition today finds a concrete path supported by a rare alignment of factors. On the one hand, the recent resolution of the Assembly of the Republicwhich calls for a review of the adult PNV, creates the necessary political framework.
On the other, proposals such as the ’95-95-95′ strategy, defended by national experts — inspired by the model used to combat HIV and adapted to vaccination, proposing to achieve 95% vaccination coverage in three priority groups: people over 65 years of age, chronically ill people and health professionals — offer a solid technical basis to reduce the impact of infections and reinforce the protection of the most vulnerable. European Immunization Week reinforces the urgency of turning this recommendation into action.
Adopting a lifelong approach to immunization is an investment with a clear and measurable return. This translates into fewer hospitalizations, greater quality of life, more years of healthy life and greater productivity for society. More than that, it means ensuring that the SNS can concentrate its resources where they are truly needed, strengthening its response capacity.
Portugal has, once again, the opportunity to lead by example. We have scientific knowledge, the experience of an internationally recognized National Immunization Program and a growing consensus among health professionals, decision makers and civil society. Expanding the prevention paradigm into adulthood is the natural evolution of our collective commitment to Public Health.
May this European Immunization Week be the impetus for us to build together a future in which each generation is protected and, thus, the entire population safer and more resilient. Because when we protect each generation, we protect the entire society — from 0 to 100.
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