Strategic Consensus on a Proposed Vaccination Schedule for Adults in Portugal

Increasing life expectancy underscores the importance of strategies to enhance population health across the lifespan. Vaccination is a proven intervention to reduce morbidity and mortality; however, adult vaccination coverage remains suboptimal. Between April and May 2024, the NOVA Center for Global Health conducted the “+Longevity Think Tank” in Portugal, engaging 19 Portuguese healthcare experts across three structured in-person sessions. The initiative aimed to explore the epidemiological, economic, and social impact of vaccine-preventable diseases in adults and develop recommendations for lifelong vaccination. Each session was facilitated by the NOVA research team and included evidence-based presentations to be used as background information, group discussions, convergence of ideas, and consensus building on specific recommendations. Consensus was reached using majority agreement, and participants subsequently rated the impact and priority of each recommendation through a structured survey. Think Tank participants proposed 21 recommendations; the one addressed in this manuscript focuses on the development of an adult vaccination schedule tailored to Portugal, with an emphasis on integration into the National Vaccination Program, targeted awareness campaigns, and multisectoral collaboration to improve vaccination coverage and adherence. The public health challenges we face today, particularly regarding vaccination, call for decisive action. The agreement among national experts on this issue reflects a clear intent to move forward with its implementation.