About AP-CHAAI
The Asia-Pacific Consortium for Healthy Aging and Adult Immunization (AP-CHAAI) is a pioneering initiative dedicated to improving adult vaccine access and uptake across the Asia-Pacific region.
By bringing together leading public and private sector experts, AP-CHAAI aims to break through the knowledge and policy barriers that hinder adult immunization, particularly for infections like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and shingles, which pose a growing threat to healthy aging.
The Cost of Inaction:
Why Adult Immunization Matters
Across the Asia-Pacific, low adult immunization rates remain a significant public health challenge. Infections such as RSV and shingles cause avoidable illness, hospitalizations, and rising healthcare costs.
For example, in 2023, RSV led to approximately 778,000 hospitalizations among older adults (aged 60 years and older) in high-income Asia-Pacific countries. The total cost of RSV-related hospitalizations in these countries reached USD 2.8 billion. Shingles, meanwhile, affects about one in three people in their lifetime, with incidence and complications increasing as populations age. These largely preventable infections strain health systems and economies, underlining the urgent need for improved adult immunization strategies.
778,000
Hospitalizations among older adults (aged 60 years and older)
USD 2.8 billion
Total cost of RSV-related hospitalizations
1 in 3 people
are affected by shingles in their lifetime
Our Mission and Vision
Mission
To break through the knowledge, awareness, and policy barriers that hinder adult immunization in the Asia-Pacific, enabling all individuals to access the vaccines they need for healthy aging.
Vision
An Asia-Pacific where every adult can receive the vaccines needed to safeguard their health as they age.
Our Goals
Enhance surveillance and the knowledge base around adult vaccine uptake and the vaccine-preventable diseases most harmful to healthy aging.
Increase awareness and reduce hesitancy around adult vaccines.
Advance policies that promote greater uptake of adult vaccines, including for RSV and shingles.
Our Structure
AP-CHAAI is guided by a distinguished Steering Committee and operates through three expert Working Groups:
Vaccine Policy
Working Group
Proposes policies to encourage greater uptake and support for adult vaccines.
Surveillance
Working Group
Improves understanding of the burden of infectious diseases like RSV and shingles on aging populations by connecting and sharing surveillance data.
Prevention and Awareness
Working Group
Motivates the public to understand the impact of infectious diseases on healthy aging and the importance of vaccines for prevention.
Virtual Think Tank and Data Dashboard
To address the urgent need for harmonized data and informed policy, AP-CHAAI is launching a virtual think tank and data dashboard. This website will:
- Serve as AP-CHAAI’s digital hub.
- Host a KOL Expert Library featuring bios, quotes, and publications from leading voices.
- Feature an interactive Adult Vaccine Map showing, by country in the region:
Burden of disease | Vaccine uptake rates | Vaccine availability
DATA
Data Dashboard
In its initial form, the AP-CHAAI dashboard focuses on RSV, with in-depth analysis for Japan, Australia, China, and Vietnam. Each country page interprets available evidence, highlight the cost and access to vaccines, and provide actionable recommendations for policymakers. We aim to add data for additional countries in the region in the coming months.
Looking Ahead:
Expanding Our Impact
Join us as we expand AP-CHAAI’s scope and impact. Our future priorities include:
Broadening advocacy materials to cover additional adult vaccine-preventable diseases.
Adding more countries and diseases to our dynamic map.
Growing our network of organizations and key opinion leaders.
Conducting advocacy outreach to policymakers across the Asia-Pacific.
Our Partners
AP-CHAAI is supported by funding from Pfizer and GSK. AP-CHAAI's perspectives, analyses, and recommendations are independent of this financial support and reflect the views of our members. They do not necessarily reflect the positions or policies of Pfizer or GSK.
