UN IDOP Side Event: End Immunisation Inequality Toward Healthy Ageing

About the World Summit on Social Development

The United Nations General Assembly, through its resolutions 78/261 and 78/318, decided to convene the “World Social Summit” in 2025, under the title “the Second World Summit for Social Development” to be held in Doha, Qatar from 4-6 November.

The Summit will convene heads of State or Government, along with other leaders and CSOs, to address gaps and recommit to the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of Action and its implementation and give momentum towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

Advancing Healthy Ageing as a Cornerstone of Social Development

As populations age at unprecedented rates, the global community faces a decisive moment: will we adapt policies and systems to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to age with dignity, health, and voice, or risk leaving millions behind? Our work demonstrates that investing in healthy ageing strengthens entire societies, from resilient health systems and inclusive labour markets to sustainable urban development and intergenerational solidarity. The ageing agenda must be a core component of the sustainable development agenda.

The 2019 United Nations International Day of Older Persons (UN IDOP) theme “the journey to age equality” focuses on pathways of coping with existing and preventing future old age inequality. The theme will explore levers to cope with demographic and other societal and structural change and to shift the narrative of “old age”.

In celebration of UN IDOP, the IFA aims to bring together international professionals to discuss the critical importance of a life-course approach to immunisation as part of the universal health care agenda. Special attention to the social and economic consequences of influenza and the protective effects of immunisation will be explored.

Side Event Agenda

Lunch, provided outside of event space (Conference Room 11 at 12:30PM)
Welcome and Greetings, H.E. Ambassador Dr Toshiya Hoshino (Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the UN)
Opening Remarks: Ms Nasly Bernal Prado (Chair of the Group of Friends of Older Persons)
Panellists: Dr Justin Ortiz (University of Maryland School of Medicine), Mr Costin Radu Ganescu (Coalition of Patient’s Organisations with Chronic Diseases), Prof JP Sevilla (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)
Closing Remarks: Ms Amal Rafeh (Chief Programme on Ageing Unit, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs)
Final Thoughts: Dr Jane Barratt (Secretary General, International Federation on Ageing)