Vaccine-preventable diseases in Europe: where do we stand?

Abstract

During the second half of the 20th century, vaccinations led to the control or even eradication of several vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) in Europe. However, outbreaks of VPDs continue to occur even in countries with well-established vaccination programs. Reasons include the existence of under-vaccinated populations, the increasing anti-vaccination movement and the increasing movement of populations across borders. Ensuring adequate levels of herd immunity is the only reliable method for preventing epidemics and a re-emergence of VPDs. In order to achieve this, more flexible vaccine delivery platforms are needed targeting the less-privileged people, especially in the context of the current economic crisis. Healthcare personnel and healthcare systems should be prepared to address these challenges in the following years.

Keywords::

• control
• eradication
• Europe
• immunization
• outbreaks
• re-emergence
• vaccination
• vaccine-preventable diseases

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The views in this article are the personal views of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the professional organizations or institutions of which we are members. S Wicker is a member of the German Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) and vice-chairperson of the German Verification Committee for Measles and Rubella Elimination. She has received honoraria for non–product-related talks on influenza vaccination from GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi Pasteur, AstraZeneca and Novartis and has participated in workshops about healthcare personnel and vaccination sponsored by Abbott. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Key issues

• Despite the availability of many safe and effective vaccines and the establishment of vaccination programs for more than half a century, outbreaks due to vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) continue to occur in developed countries including those in Europe.

• Achieving and sustaining high and timely routine vaccination coverage in all age groups are of outmost importance in order to prevent outbreaks and re-emergence of VPDs.

• There is a need to establish more flexible vaccination delivery platforms in Europe, in order to access the less-privileged people within the context of the current economic crisis.

• The anti-vaccination movement will increase further in the following years.

• Education of the general population and healthcare personnel (HCP) about vaccines should be promoted.