Immunization as a framework for improving adolescent health - Symposium Supported by SanofiSession Description:Adolescents aged 10–19 years represent around 16% of the global population yet they are the least frequent consumers of preventive healthcare. Their vaccination rates also lag those of younger children.The majority of morbidity and mortality in adolescents relates to what they are thinking, doing, and feeling. These problems include mental health issues, unintentional injuries, and interpersonal violence. Without regular preventive health visits, these issues are neither assessed nor addressed. Immunization platforms – routine health visits for administration of recommended vaccines – have long served to enact the age-based vaccine schedule and provide opportunities for anticipatory guidance and health supervision, especially in pediatric practice. A global adolescent immunization platform would provide similar benefits for adolescents, enhancing their health by providing protection against vaccine-preventable diseases during adolescence and adulthood, and by acting as a hook to bring them into the doctor’s office for other preventive services. In this symposium the expert panel will discuss the role of immunization platforms as a means to bring adolescents into the healthcare setting, providing opportunities for HCPs to assess and support their overall health and wellbeing. The faculty will also review the important principles for adolescent health supervision and anticipatory guidance, including screening for psychosocial concerns.