Health professionals unite in support of vaccination

A broad range of healthcare professionals and student organisations is calling for a concerted effort to protect against vaccine-preventable diseases. In a joint statement, the Coalition for Vaccination said Europe can address serious public health challenges by building on past achievements.

‘We are concerned that vaccination coverage in many European countries remains suboptimal due to vaccine hesitancy, vaccine shortages, misinformation and disinformation, and structural barriers to access within healthcare systems, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic,’ the Coalition said.

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The Coalition warned that the success of vaccine programmes may be in danger, pointing to mixed messages about immunisation which are damaging public confidence.

‘Losing protection could have dangerous consequences for individuals and population groups,’ it said. ‘Recent changes to vaccination recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States of America have led to confusion, distrust, and an increase in vaccine misinformation and disinformation. European countries and the EU must not make the same mistake.’

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The Coalition, comprising European healthcare professionals and students welcomed the European Commission’s new EU Cardiovascular Health Plan which keeps vaccination on the EU agenda and confirms that vaccination against infections, such as influenza, SARS-CoV-2, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), pneumococcal disease, and herpes zoster, is a safe and effective measure to protect the European population. It also highlighted the goals of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan is to eliminate cervical cancer by vaccinating young people against human papillomavirus (HPV).

‘We welcome the ongoing crucial work of the European Commission in supporting the national efforts of the Member States to increase vaccination coverage, in addition to collaborations with the European Centre for Disease Prevention (ECDC) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to:

• Provide easily comprehensible information, and counter misinformation and disinformation
• Support national vaccination strategies based on scientific evidence
• Provide adequate education and continuing professional development for healthcare professionals
• Monitor the performance of immunisation programmes through internationally compatible and easily accessible immunisation information systems across healthcare settings
• Introduce a European digital vaccination card
• Improve the public understanding and transparency in vaccine approval processes
• Strengthen independent, national and EU-wide vaccine safety surveillance.’

Meanwhile in Geneva, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Executive Board reaffirmed its commitment to Immunization Agenda 2030 which aims to bring the benefits of vaccination to people around the world.

‘Concerns over misinformation and vaccine hesitancy featured prominently in the discussions,’ according to the WHO website. ‘Member States urged stronger risk communication and community engagement, backed by evidence-based messaging, to build trust and sustain demand for vaccines.’

Amid faltering vaccine confidence, a constellation of health advocates at regional and global level are voicing their concern and commitment to supporting vaccination.