A life-course approach to vaccination will secure the health of Europe’s citizens
24.04.16
These days, there is an undue hesitancy and complacency when it comes to addressing disease, which puts at risk the proper implementation of the National Immunisation Programmes across the EU Member States. In fact, failure to achieve target levels of immunisation has led the European region to miss the WHO goal of measles and rubella elimination by 2015. Equally eye opening is the fact that only two EU countries – the Netherlands and the UK – have surpassed the goal of vaccinating 75% of people in at-risk groups against influenza.
Moreover, as we encounter an increasingly ageing population in Europe, maintaining a decent level of health for our citizens remains a challenge. This is why the growing appreciation of the importance of adult and senior immunisation through a life-course approach to vaccination is a welcome development.
So as we celebrate European Immunisation Week from 24–30 April 2016, we do so with the aim of increasing vaccination coverage by raising awareness about the importance of immunisation and communicating it to parents, caregivers, healthcare professionals, policy- and decision-makers, and the media.
This week offers us the opportunity to showcase the value of immunisation as a critical public health intervention and the benefits that immunisation brings in terms of health and economic returns. With this in mind, we would like to see more activities organised at EU and national level during European Immunisation Week.
We already have a blueprint for these efforts in the form of the recently adopted EU Council Conclusions on vaccinations as an effective tool in public health. Its invitation to Member States and the Commission to develop a co-financed Joint Action programme to share best practice on national vaccination policies is an essential element in Europe’s immunisation drive.
It should aim to address the challenges identified in the Council Conclusions: foster a shift towards a life-course approach to immunisation to meet public health needs; facilitate exchange on decision-making for immunisation to strengthen national capacity for carrying out evidence-based, cost-effective vaccination, including the introduction of new vaccines through National Immunisation Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) cooperation; support R&D and innovation efforts; and address vaccine hesitancy and complacency.
It’s a long, complex and challenging list, one that is multi-faceted in nature and requires strong political leadership to us beyond the status quo. Obtaining political commitment at all levels is a must if we want to achieve not only the shared goal of measles and rubella elimination, but also a proper and effective implementation of life-course immunisation through national vaccination programmes.
Vaccines Europe supports the setting up of a EU Joint Action, which will foster a vital discussion amongst stakeholders concerning the challenges outlined in the EU Council Conclusions. What we need most urgently is for Member States, the Commission, regulatory and public health agencies to advance this agenda, which is so essential for public health today.
