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

ABSTRACT

Synopsis The COVID-19 pandemic has 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 (face masks, hand hygiene, lockdowns and many others), brought a glimmer of hope to the control of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, challenges in COVID-19 vaccine development and vaccination strategies among older people remain still. In this article, some previous examples regarding vaccination in older adults, including influenza, herpes zoster, and pneumococcal pneumonia, have been reviewed for comparisons. This article further conducts comparisons between different COVID-19 vaccine platforms based on their technology, production requirement, immune response, advantages and disadvantages. Efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines in frail older people in long-term care settings have been reviewed. Challenges of COVID-19 vaccine development and policy-making for vaccination strategies in older adults have been addressed.