10 Years of European Immunisation Week

DUBLIN 2, Ireland - April 20, 2015 - PRLog -- 20 April 2015—Each year, the WHO-Europe coordinates the European Immunization Week to encourage countries across the region to “Prevent - Protect - Immunize” their population against infectious diseases. The European Immunization Week (EIW) 2015 will take place from 20-25 April, marking the tenth anniversary of this initiative.The European Institute of Women’s Health (EIWH)and the Confederation of Meningitis Organisations (CoMO) actively support the vision of a European Region free of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Immunization across the life course has been sadly missing from the European health promotion and prevention agenda, despite the great successes of the past, eliminating many infectious diseases. In 2002, for example, the WHO European Region was certified as polio-free. According to the World Health Organization, immunization saves more than three million lives annually. A further three million deaths of both children and adults could be prevented by vaccination.“ Over the years, the EIWH has been watching with alarm how coverage rates of and trust in vaccination have been steadily declining in some countries, placing them below the vaccination targets recommended by the World Health Organization,” stated Peggy Maguire, Director General of the EIWH.

It seems that the success of immunization programmes has led to a lack of concern regarding vaccine-preventable disease by many Europeans. However, the recent steep increase in measles cases in Berlin, Germany shows how a failure to vaccinate can encourage the spread of measles in school-age children. The hesitancy of many parents to vaccinate their young children has resulted in preventable, costly outbreaks of communicable diseases such as measles and pertussis, resulting in serious long-term illness or even death. From 2007 to 2013, the WHO European region witnessed a 348% increase in measles cases. Infectious diseases are not only a danger to children, but can be a serious health threat to all people, particularly to those who contract the infections in later age. In addition, certain groups who cannot be vaccinated, or refuse vaccination, benefit from a phenomenon called “herd immunity” which, if a sufficient percentage of the population is vaccinated, protects the unvaccinated around them.

Positive messages and advocacy about the benefit of immunization must be improved in the WHO European Region. Health authorities should not only communicate at a time of crisis, but must also capitalise on vital opportunities to build trust and understanding of vaccination in the general public—prior to an outbreak. Pro-active public health messages are needed to combat rampant misinformation and scientifically unfounded anti-vaccination alarm. The European Institute of Women’s Health and the CoMO call on policy makers to devote particular attention to targeting vulnerable and underserved populations.“The good news to be cerebrated during European Immunization Week is the introduction into the
UK of vaccination against Meningitis B, which will be offered free to babies by the National Health Service” said Daphne Holt, Vice President of CoMO “This is a hugely important step and paves the way for other countries to think about introducing vaccination against this devastating disease.”

E u r o p e a n  I n s t i t u t e  of  Wom e n’s  H e a l t h ,  3 3  Pear se  Street ,  D u b l i n 2 , I r e l a n d
T e l e p h o n e : + 3 5 3-1-671 5691 • Fax: +353-1-671 56 62 • Email: info@eurohealth.ie
Website: http://www.eurohealth.ie
Director General: Peggy Maguire
President of the EIWH: Hildrun Sundseth
Members of the Board: B. Dowling • M. Cusack • S. Hewson • R. Iredale • I. Klinge • M. Rovira • K. Ritchie

“European Immunization Week is also a wake up call for health professionals and the public health community. Unless there is positive advocacy for vaccination, like that against Meningitis B, and for
immunization in general, together with the political will to support robust, coherent and evidencebased communication and public dialogue, trust in vaccination will not be restored. Society should
be able to count on a vaccine- and health-literate public which is critical in case there is an emergency or epidemic,” argued Hildrun Sundseth, President of the EIWH.
The European Institute of Women’s Health and CoMO welcome the European Immunization Week and encourage its members to participate in the plethora of activities occurring throughout the
week at national and EU level. The EIWH will support the occasion with a series of Tweets throughout the week and disseminate informational material. We will reissue our policy briefing,
“Women and Vaccination in the EU” to promote universal vaccination and reduce inequities in immunization throughout Europe. CoMO will honour World Meningitis Day on 24th April with tweets
on the day and Facebook activity. Finally, EIWH and its members urge Member States to utilise the updated ECDC EU Vaccine Scheduler and welcomes the much-needed inclusion of measles and
rubella data in the ECDC Surveillance Data.

For more information, please visit:
• The European Institute of Women’s Health Policy Briefing, “Women and Vaccination in the EU”: http://eurohealth.ie/2014/12/03/women-and-vaccination-in-...
• European Immunization Week website: http://www.euro.who.int/en/mediacentre/events/events/2015/04/european-immunization-week-2015/europeanimmunization-week-2015-commitment-to-immunization
• European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control Website : http://ecdc.europa.eu/
• ECDC Surveillance Atlas website: http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/data-tools/atlas/Pages/atlas.aspx
• The CoMO website and Facebook page: http://www.comomeningitis.org and http://www.facebook.com/confederationofmeningitisorganisations