COVID-19 Vaccines in Older Adults: Challenges in Vaccine Development and Policy Making

Chih-Kuang Liang; Wei-Ju Lee; Li-Ning Peng; Lin-Chieh Meng; Fei-Yuan Hsiao; Liang-Kung Chen

doi:10.1016/j.cger.2022.03.006

COVID-19 Vaccines in Older Adults: Challenges in Vaccine Development and Policy Making

Clin Geriatr Med. 2022 Aug;38(3):605-620. doi: 10.1016/j.cger.2022.03.006. Epub 2022 Mar 21.

Authors

Chih-Kuang Liang¹, Wei-Ju Lee², Li-Ning Peng³, Lin-Chieh Meng⁴, Fei-Yuan Hsiao⁵, Liang-Kung Chen⁶

Affiliations

¹ Center for Healthy Longevity and Aging Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
² Center for Healthy Longevity and Aging Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Family Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital Yuanshan Branch, Yi-Lan, Taiwan.
³ Center for Healthy Longevity and Aging Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁴ Graduate Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁵ Graduate Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Pharmacy, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁶ Center for Healthy Longevity and Aging Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Taipei Municipal Gan-Dau Hospital (Managed by Taipei Veterans General Hospital), Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: lkchen2@vghtpe.gov.tw.

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had strong adverse impacts on vulnerable populations, such as frail older adults. The success of COVID-19 vaccine development, together with extensive global public health efforts, has brought hope to the control of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, challenges in COVID-19 vaccine development and vaccination strategies among older people remain. This article reviews vaccinations in older adults, compares COVID-19 vaccine platforms, the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines in frail older people in long-term care settings, and the challenges of COVID-19 vaccine development and policy making for vaccination strategies in older adults.

Keywords: COVID-19; Disability; Frailty; Immunosenescence; Vaccine.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
COVID-19 Vaccines
COVID-19* / epidemiology
COVID-19* / prevention & control
Humans
Pandemics / prevention & control
Policy Making
Vaccination
Vaccine Development
Vaccines*

Substances

COVID-19 Vaccines
Vaccines