Vaccinations in Lombardy: Increased prevention and a key role for pharmacies

Milano, March 2 – In Lombardy over 3,4 million citizens live with chronic diseasesA fact that takes on even greater weight if read in light of demographic evolution: today the 23,4% of the population is over 65, a percentage expected to rise to 32,4% within the next thirty years.

In this context, the strengthening of the vaccination prevention It becomes a strategic lever for public health. This was discussed in the Sala del Gonfalone during the institutional event. Vaccination prevention as a pillar of regional public health, promoted by the journal Rh+ Regional Health with the unconditional contribution of GSK and MSD.

Vaccination prevention: a shield for the vulnerable and the healthcare system

Progressive aging and the increase in chronic conditions require health policies geared towards primary prevention, especially to protect the most vulnerable groups.

"Strengthening vaccination policies means protecting families, reducing inequalities in access to care and supporting social cohesion," he declared. Emanuele Monti, president of the IX Permanent Commission for Social Sustainability, Home and Family of the Lombardy Region.

Vaccination, therefore, is not just a health measure, but a collective responsibility that requires the involvement of institutions, the scientific community, healthcare professionals, and patient associations.

Shingles and HPV: Focus on Two Health Priorities

At the centre of the debate are two areas of particular impact: Herpes zoster e human papilloma virus (HPV).

Shingles: Risk Growing After Age 50

Caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus, shingles mainly affects adults and the elderly. One in three people is at risk of developing it during life, with an incidence that increases significantly after the age of 50.

The Lombardy Region confirms structured and timely access to vaccination for those over 65, strengthening its public protection strategy.

HPV: primary cancer prevention

Much attention was given to the fight against gynecological cancers, particularly cervical cancers, which are often linked to HPV.

According to the professor Massimo Origoni, head of the Gynecological Oncology Diagnostic Center of the Gynecology and Obstetrics Department of the IRCCS San Raffaele di Milano, the anti-HPV vaccination represents «one of the most powerful tools for primary cancer prevention».

Increasing coverage means concretely reducing the incidence of avoidable cancers and protecting future generations.

Pharmacy services: a lever to increase vaccination coverage

In the framework of regional policies, the weight of the pharmacy of services as a local health facility.

The ability to administer vaccines in pharmacies—including pneumococcal vaccination—represents a concrete contribution to increasing coverage levels, which are still far from the goals of the National Vaccination Prevention Plan.

"Local pharmacists play a key role in vaccination campaigns due to their accessibility, expertise and relationship of trust with citizens," he underlined. Andrea Mandelli, president of FOFI.

The Annarosa Racca, president of Federfarma Lombardia, highlighted how proximity and simplified access—with reduced waiting lists and bureaucratic procedures—encourage greater vaccination uptake, while also easing the pressure on vaccination centers.

Vaccines and sustainability: an investment for the future

Vaccination prevention is also an economically sustainable choice.

"Vaccination is establishing itself as a strategic investment for the health of citizens and for the sustainability of the regional healthcare system," he declared Marco Alparone, vice president and councilor for Budget and Finance of the Lombardy Region.

Investing in adequate coverage today means preventing complications, hospitalizations, and future healthcare costs, ensuring a system more resilient to the challenges posed by an aging population.

Closing, Eleonora Selvi, president of the LONGEVITAS ETS Foundation, reiterated that promoting vaccination prevention means investing in "quality longevity," based on health, awareness, and inclusion.

Lombardy territorial prevention model

The Lombardy Region thus confirms a clear strategic line: strengthen vaccination prevention, reduce inequalities in access, simplify procedures, and enhance the network of local pharmacies.

A strategy that views public health not only as a health objective, but as a pillar of social cohesion and long-term economic sustainability.