At the scientific conference "Lifelong Immunity Journey - Multi-dimensional Perspective on Opportunities and Challenges" organized by the Vietnam Preventive Medicine Association, in coordination with Pfizer Vietnam, Prof. Dr. Phan Trong Lan, Director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, said: "When global and domestic epidemiology has many fluctuations, from changing disease models by age and risk groups to challenges for the health system, the preventive approach needs to be placed in the overall strategy and based on epidemiological data, scientific evidence as well as international experience. In which, the orientation of'lifelong immunity' is increasingly being concerned as a lifecycle approach to improve the effectiveness of community health protection".
Vietnam is entering a period of rapid population aging. The aging process is accompanied by reduced bodily function and aging of the immune system, increasing the risk of infectious diseases, cancer and autoimmune diseases.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Khac Bao, Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City University Medical Center Hospital, said: "Elderly people, especially from 65 years old and over, are prone to respiratory infections with serious levels and high risk of death. In addition, respiratory infections not only cause acute diseases but also worsen chronic diseases; especially, viral and bacterial co-infection can lead to severe progression and increase the risk of death. Therefore, proactive prevention needs to be considered in this group of patients.
Experts agree that the life cycle preventive approach is a practical practice with practical value in the context of changing healthcare needs. A comprehensive approach along the lifelong immune journey helps the medical community recognize risks by age group and risk groups in a systematic way, while placing the role of information, medical staff and inter-specialized coordination in the center of modern preventive medicine.
