Symposium: Healthy Ageing & The Adult Vaccination Dividend

The British-Slovenian Chamber of Commerce is organising a symposium on 10 June 2026, dedicated to one of the most pressing public health challenges of our time: healthy ageing and the role of vaccination in protecting and strengthening the resilience of the older population. The event will take place at the premises of the Medical Chamber of Slovenia.

As Europe’s demographic landscape continues to evolve, the health, wellbeing, and active participation of older populations are becoming increasingly central to both national and European policy discussions. At the same time, infectious diseases continue to create a significant burden for healthcare systems, individuals, employers, and society. The symposium will bring together experts from the United Kingdom and Slovenia to share knowledge, evidence, and experience on how vaccination strategies can significantly contribute to healthy ageing, and why investing in them makes sense not only from a medical, but also from an economic and societal perspective.

The topic is also highly relevant from a business perspective. With an ageing workforce, supporting employee health and sustained productivity is becoming increasingly important. Vaccination can help reduce absenteeism, limit productivity losses, support an active and engaged workforce, and reduce direct healthcare costs.

There is a strong need for stronger public and professional awareness of the burden of infectious diseases and the value of prevention. Expert voices and professional bodies have an important role to play in shaping the discussion on adult vaccination, including in relation to the National Immunisation Programme, NITAG, and the Extended Professional Boards for general practitioners and immunology.

This is a complex topic that requires a broader, cross-sectoral approach. The symposium is therefore intended for all those interested in improving the health and quality of life of the older population in Slovenia, including healthcare professionals, public health experts, general practitioners, immunologists, and policymakers, as well as representatives of patient organisations, pensioners’ associations, and the business community, given the growing importance of workforce health, productivity, and active participation as the population ages.

Attendance at the event is free of charge; however, prior registration is required via this link. The event will be held in English, with on-screen translation provided in Slovenian.

Program

16:00 – 16:20 | Registration, Coffee and Tea

16:20 – 16:30 | Opening Remarks

• Prof Bojana Beović, MD, PhD, President of Medical Chamber and Department of Infectious Diseases at the University Medical Centre in Ljubljana
• Luka Vesnaver, Chairman of the British-Slovenian Chamber of Commerce

16:30 – 17:00 | Key Note 1: Socio-Economic Value of Adult Immunisation Programmes by Simon Brassel, OHE

Simon Brossel will present the key findings from the OHE review and report on the health impact and socioeconomic value of adult immunisation programmes against seasonal influenza (influenza), pneumococcal disease (PD), herpes zoster (HZ), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) around the world. The findings support the critical role of robust adult immunisation programmes in addressing major health and societal challenges.

17:00 – 17.45 | Panel 1: The Value of Adult Vaccination: Investment, Not Cost

Exploring the socio-economic value of immunization in adults elderly population and how this is perceived by various stakeholders.

• Simon Brassel, Associate Director of the Office of Health Economics
• Petra Došenovič Bonča, PhD, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Economics
• Prof Alenka Kraigher, MD, MSc, PhD, former Head of Communicable Diseases Center at the National Institute of Public Health
• Mitja Vrdelja, PhD, Head of Communication Department at the National Institute of Public Health Slovenia

Moderator: Lucija Bošnik Petavs, former Editor in Chief of the specialized medical publication Medicina danes

17:45 – 18:05 | Break

18.05 – 18.30 | Key Note 2: Sharing Best Practices: Adult Vaccination Programs in the UK by Dr Catherine Heffernan

Dr Heffernan presentation will focus on the Adult vaccination programs in the UK, the impact of the program (Outcomes, cost savings, reduced disease burden) and will provide discussion points for the Panel 2, where the Slovene national experts will discuss on the opportunities and challenges of Slovene vaccination practices.

18:30 – 19.15 | Panel 2: Policy, Practice & Awareness: Unlocking Adult Immunisation in Slovenia

This panel is designed to feed insights directly into NITAG and the Extended Professional Boards.

• Nina Grasselli Kmet, MD, PhD, Head of Vaccination Center, University Clinical Center Ljubljana,
• Dr Marta Grgič Vitek, National Vaccination Coordinator at the National Institute of Public Health
• Dr Catherine Heffernan, Director of Health Improvement at NHS South West London and Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health
• Darja Potočnik Benčič, MSc, President of Slovene Chamber of Pharmacy
• Prof Janez Tomažič, MD, PhD, Head of Department for Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology, Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana and Chief Physician at the Clinic for Infectious Diseases, University Medical Centre Ljubljana

Moderator: Lucija Bošnik Petavs, former Editor in Chief of the specialized medical publication Medicina danes

19:15 – 19:30 | Wrap-up Discussion: Key Messages & Call to Action

Moderated discussion among panelists and audience for commitments and next steps.