On World Lung Day, the Long Alliantie Nederland introduced the first national vaccination guideline for adults with chronic lung disease. Developed through broad collaboration, this milestone provides clear, evidence-based recommendations to support better prevention and quality of life. Our Health-Ecore colleagues proudly contributed to this collective effort.
Today, the Long Alliantie Nederland (LAN) presented the first national vaccination guideline for adults with chronic lung disease. The launch at Nieuwspoort marks an important milestone in preventive healthcare and provides long-awaited clarity for both healthcare professionals and patients.
Closing an Important Gap
Until now, there was no unified overview of which vaccinations are recommended for adults with chronic lung conditions including, but not limited to people with asthma, COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis or bronchiectasias. This lack of clarity often created uncertainty in practice, even though these patients face a much higher risk of serious infections, including pneumococcal disease, RSV, flu or COVID-19. Such infections can result in complications, hospital admissions, and, in some cases, a permanent loss of independence.
The new guideline responds to this need by bringing together the latest scientific evidence on disease burden and vaccine effectiveness. It offers clear and practical recommendations on which vaccines are advised, for which age groups, and on what basis. Developed with contributions from a broad group of experts and stakeholders, the guideline is designed for direct use in clinical practice. We are proud that several colleagues from Health-Ecore — Simon van der Pol, Sajad Emamipour, Bart Slob, Maarten Postma, and Cornelis Boersma — were able to contribute meaningfully to this collective effort, underscoring our commitment to advancing preventive healthcare together with partners in the lung health field.
Improving Outcomes Through Prevention
For people living with chronic lung disease, targeted vaccination can significantly reduce the number of hospital admissions, lower the severity of infections, and help preserve independence and quality of life. The guideline also aligns closely with the ambitions of Passende Zorg, one of the central themes of the Integraal Zorgakkoord (IZA). By giving patients and healthcare professionals the right tools for prevention, it strengthens health outcomes while reducing avoidable healthcare costs.