Vaccine-induced immunity and innovative epidemiological surveillance of respiratory infections in older adults

This project aims to improve surveillance of respiratory infections and optimize vaccine protection against respiratory infections to reduce disease burden among older adults.

Objectives include: (1) investigate new innovative register-based surveillance to be used to evaluate public health interventions (2) longitudinally characterize immunity and vaccine responses (3) combine immunological and register data to identify protection correlates and (4) evaluate the added value of symptom-based surveillance in nursing homes.

Collaborative efforts have established a clinical network in five regions in Sweden, accessing extensive register data (>2.5 million individuals aged 65+) and providing weekly updates to the Public Health Agency.

We aim for continuous biomonitoring of influenza, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus infection, and invasive pneumococcal disease in nursing homes, with presently >15,000 samples available from >3,000 residents.

A new symptom-based surveillance strategy with digital educational packages and electronic assessment tools for care workers will be developed and evaluated.

Advanced statistical methods, including two-stage analysis, case-control sampling, and spatiotemporal techniques, will enhance epidemiological surveillance.

Expected outcomes include demonstrating how existing population data infrastructure, combined with additional immunological and symptom data, can facilitate precision vaccination and the evaluation of public health interventions.