COVID Vaccine Rollout for Older People: East Meets West

Abstract Older adults should be one of the first groups to receive COVID-19 vaccines, because the risk of dying from COVID-19 increases with age. However, it takes time to distribute the vaccines to different countries, and the challenges in administering vaccines may differ by health system characteristics and local culture. This international symposium will discuss the vaccine rollout issues in eight countries (Isreal, Japan, South Korea, China, France, United Kingdom, Canada, and United States). We will use an interview and dialog format, instead of presentations. We will cover extensive topics including: Availability - What vaccines? Access, Acceptance, Caregivers – How are providers responding/handling caregivers wanting to be vaccinated?Cost/Financing Issues, Distribution Logistics/Transport/Safety, Lessons Learned, Mutations/Variants, Partnerships needed to vaccinate homebound patients (community partners; home health agencies, etc.), Who can/should provide vaccination? The situation with COVID-19 is still very fluid. Countries are at different stages of vaccinating older people. The chair didn't ask the speakers to write an abstract now, instead, the speakers will collect more information during the next few months and plan to have a prep meeting one month before the Annual Meeting.


COVID VACCINE ROLLOUT FOR OLDER PEOPLE: EAST MEETS WEST
Chair: Nengliang Yao Co-Chair: Tom Cornwell Discussant: Cheryl Camillo Older adults should be one of the first groups to receive COVID-19 vaccines, because the risk of dying from COVID-19 increases with age. However, it takes time to distribute the vaccines to different countries, and the challenges in administering vaccines may differ by health system characteristics and local culture. This international symposium will discuss the vaccine rollout issues in eight countries (Isreal, Japan, South Korea, China, France, United Kingdom, Canada, and United States). We will use an interview and dialog format, instead of presentations. We will cover extensive topics including: Availability -What vaccines? Access, Acceptance, Caregivers -How are providers responding/handling caregivers wanting to be vaccinated?Cost/Financing Issues, Distribution Logistics/Transport/Safety, Lessons Learned, Mutations/Variants, Partnerships needed to vaccinate homebound patients (community partners; home health agencies, etc.), Who can/should provide vaccination? The situation with COVID-19 is still very fluid. Countries are at different stages of vaccinating older people. The chair didn't ask the speakers to write an abstract now, instead, the speakers will collect more information during the next few months and plan to have a prep meeting one month before the Annual Meeting.

COVID VACCINE ROLLOUT FOR OLDER ADULTS IN JAPAN
Tadashi Wada, Irahara Primary Care Hospital, Chiba, Chiba, Japan It has just started in Japan. We will provide detailed information later. The symposium has experts from 8 countries. We will use an interview and dialog format, instead of presentations.

COVID VACCINE ROLLOUT FOR OLDER ADULTS IN SOUTH KOREA Chan Mi Park, Asan Medical Center, Songpa-gu, Seoult'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea
It has just started in South Korea. We will provide detailed information later. The symposium has experts from 8 countries. We will use an interview and dialog format, instead of presentations.

COVID VACCINE ROLLOUT FOR OLDER ADULTS IN ISRAEL Naim Mahroum, Sabar Health, Even Yehuda, Tel Aviv, Israel
The COVID vaccine rollout in Israel has prioritized older adults. It led to a substantial decline in the incidence of COVID-19 in older adults. The new variants are threats to the current achievements. We will provide detailed information later. The symposium has experts from 8 countries. We will use an interview and dialog format, instead of presentations.

COVID VACCINE ROLLOUT FOR OLDER ADULTS IN FRANCE Matthieu De Stampa, Assistance Publique -Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, Ile-de-France, France
Only about three million people in France have so far received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. Those aged over 75 are offered either Pfizer or Moderna vaccines in a vaccination center. Older people with pre-existing conditions can now get AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine. We will provide detailed information later. The symposium has experts from 8 countries. We will use an interview and dialog format, instead of presentations (please refer to the program overview).

COVID VACCINE ROLLOUT FOR OLDER ADULTS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM Huajie Jin, King's College London, London, England, United Kingdom
As of early March, at least 22 million adults had received one dose of a Covid vaccine in the UK, with 1.2 million of Innovation in Aging, 2021, Vol. 5, No. S1