There is growing evidence that vaccinating for infectious diseases is a critical step in the prevention and care of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Read: Respiratory infections and long-term illness: a two-way street
Despite this link, vaccination coverage remains suboptimal and, in some settings, is declining. The question we now face is: how do we close the gap between scientific evidence and clinical practice?
The Interdisciplinary Disease Collaboration on Respiratory Infections and Non-Communicable Diseases, known as the IDC, was established to help answer this question and bridge the gap between emerging science, health policy and implementation. I am proud to co-chair the IDC alongside Tor Biering-Sørensen from the University of Copenhagen and Kirsty Short from the University of Queensland. The IDC is hosted by ESWI.
Following a successful kick-off webinar on 5 March 2026, we re-convened the IDC in Brussels on 10 June. Joined by key NCD and patient advocacy organisations, clinicians, as well as leading scientists and experts, we posed the question where do we go from here?
Our discussion made one thing clear: the evidence base linking respiratory viral infections, vaccination and long-term illness is increasingly strong. Further high-quality evidence, including Grade 1A evidence where feasible, is still needed to support stronger guideline recommendations and routine implementation. But it is equally important that we communicate what is already known and ensure that evidence is translated into clinical practice.
As we also heard during the meeting, the time to act is now. The data is pointing to generational health drift, with chronic diseases striking earlier. Combined with an ageing population and declining vaccine uptake, this creates a demographic perfect storm that risks increasing the severity of both NCDs and infections, and placing further pressure on already strained healthcare systems.
Read: European heart health plan aims to boost vaccination rates
Our discussions also highlighted the opportunity to build on existing momentum. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the importance of investing in preparedness, including vaccination programmes. The European Union Safe Hearts Plan, published December 2025, places an emphasis on vaccination for the prevention of cardiovascular complications. It includes a proposal for a dedicated Council recommendation, and for Member States to implement national cardiovascular health plans by 2027.
Vaccination against respiratory virus infections should be considered as part of these policies, alongside wider preventive measures such as nutrition, physical activity, oral hygiene and appropriate infection prevention measures in healthcare settings. Deep systemic change will take time, but there are already opportunities to be more creative about when and where vaccines are offered, including at hospital discharge, in pharmacies, in primary care and along existing patient care pathways.
An opportunity to rethink vaccine communication
A major challenge lies in communication. Outside expert communities, awareness of the links between respiratory infections and NCDs remains limited, including among some of those responsible for recommending or administering vaccines. At the same time, evidence suggests that communicating the risk of NCD-related complications can support vaccine uptake. There is also growing, but still underused, evidence on the economic value of vaccination programmes.
This creates an opportunity to modernise the way we communicate about vaccination: to governments, healthcare workers and the wider public. Vaccination should not be framed only as protection against an acute infection, but also as part of healthy ageing, chronic disease prevention and resilient healthcare systems.
This is not straightforward, especially in the context of mistrust and disinformation. But this is exactly where the IDC can play an important role. The Brussels meeting showed that the IDC can bring together the expertise, perspectives and energy needed to advance respiratory virus prevention in NCD care, and help turn science into policy-relevant action.
We look forward to further meetings and activities later this year, including a podcast, a symposium at the 9th World One Health Congress in Lisbon this September, and a social media campaign.
Learn more about the IDC, and join our mailing list, at ESWI.org.
