About the APEC Vaccines Task Force
Demographic shifts, emerging infectious diseases, and mounting pressures on health budgets are converging to test the resilience of health systems across the Asia-Pacific. In this environment, life-course immunization has emerged as one of the most versatile and cost-effective strategies available to policymakers; not only for preventing the spread of infectious disease, but for strengthening health systems, supporting healthy aging, driving economic productivity, and catalyzing innovation.
APEC Health Ministers agree that vaccination is one of the most important and cost-effective public health measures. By taking a life-course approach, APEC economies can better prevent infection and disease for all populations, foster a sustainable health system, improve economic and social inclusion, and enable economic growth. The APEC Health Working Group (HWG) Sub-Working Group on Vaccination (SWGv), which is co-led by the United States and Peru, advances a coordinated approach for the HWG to address issues related to vaccination in the Asia-Pacific region. Under the SWGv, the vaccination program of work (VPoW) allows the HWG to coordinate and build on existing vaccination efforts and promote a cohesive, longer-term approach to related initiatives on vaccine supply and demand.
The APEC Vaccines Task Force serves to address the need for regional cooperation on vaccines policy through cooperation across the public and private sector stakeholders. Established in 2020, the Task Force brings together public and private sector stakeholders and serves to coordinate and support the SWGv activities on vaccines-related issues. The VTF now serves to support APEC and its members to implement the APEC Action Plan on Vaccination Across the Life-Course, a comprehensive strategy for enhancing the resilience and sustainability of immunization programs in APEC member economies across the 2021-2030 decade.
Implementation activities have included the launch of the APEC Regional Dashboard on Vaccination Across the Life-Course, as well as numerous policy dialogues, webinars, and technical workshops. Full implementation of the Action Plan will position APEC economies to meet international immunization targets, while embedding life-course immunization as a foundational pillar of broader health system strengthening and long-term economic resilience.