Life-course vaccination requires life-course performance metrics

Charles S Wiysonge1, Ado M Bwaka2, Aschalew Teka Bekele2

  • 1Cochrane South Africa, South African Medical Research Council, Parrow Valley, 7500 Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, 7505 Cape Town, South Africa; Centre for Equitable Immunisation and Pandemic Preparedness, Bellville, 7530 Cape Town, South Africa.

Vaccine
|August 13, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Vaccination is now a life-course intervention, not just for children. Current performance metrics, like diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP3) infant coverage, are insufficient for modern immunisation programmes. New metrics are needed to assess access, completion, timeliness, and protection across all life stages.

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