As Japan becomes one of the world’s most rapidly aging societies, adult vaccination is emerging as a critical yet underutilized tool for protecting health, sustaining productivity, and strengthening economic resilience. The report highlights how adult vaccines can reduce hospitalizations, improve productivity among older workers, and strengthen the sustainability of Japan’s healthcare system in a rapidly aging society.

The report calls on policymakers to:

• Clarify pathways for including vaccines in the national immunization schedule

• Align national and local financing to ensure equitable access

• Strengthen preventive health strategies to support healthy aging and Japan’s growing silver economy

The report was launched ahead of a high-level symposium in Tokyo, “Redesigning Adult Vaccine Policies for Super-Aging Societies: What Role Should Vaccines Play to Encourage Healthy Aging and Support Economic Growth in Japan, Asia-Pacific and Beyond?,” bringing together Japanese, regional, and global experts on vaccines, health policy, economics, and aging. The symposium, as with the landscape report, was convened by GCOA, AP-CHAAI, and HGPI.