Okay. I'll be quick.
The first area is protections for vaccine-preventable illnesses in older adults. As initial information suggested that COVID-19 was a precursor to an advanced pneumonia-type response, this has created serious concern within the older adult community. As PHAC previously reported, they anticipate that less than 10% of older adults are fully up to date on their vaccines. A follow-up survey of individuals shows that this number may actually be closer to 3%. Older adults do not have the same access to mass vaccination programs as those, for example, administered in schools to children.
Seniors, now more aware than ever, are hyperconcerned about other potential weakenings of their immune system, and want a fighting chance if they contract COVID-19. As CARP helps to communicate the importance of routine vaccination as an important part of the health care of an aging population, this also represents a great opportunity for the government to achieve maximum uptake on vaccines by older adults. This has been echoed by our 26 chapters across Canada in both rural and urban areas. CARP is looking for vaccines to be among the first inclusions in provincial or any potential national pharmacare formularies, with public funding and inclusion of the best-in-class vaccines to combat seasonal influenza, pneumonia and shingles in older adults.