Improving Childhood Vaccination Coverage Rates in Europe

Childhood vaccination contributes to reducing mortality and morbidity globally, reducing disease incidence, and providing health protection. In short, it is a key driver in disease prevention.

In recent decades, childhood vaccination coverage has risen across Europe, with several countries managing to achieve the 95% coverage goal within the last ten years. This should be worthy of applause. However, coverage rates in many areas within the European Union (EU) declined in the period between 2010 and 2021. As a result, several European countries have experienced unprecedented outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs), including measles outbreaks. This general trend requires increased efforts to combat barriers around vaccination uptake, as robust and resilient vaccination systems across the EU are crucial to protecting the population from preventable illnesses and deaths due to VPDs, as well as ensuring recovery from any future crises.

In an article published by the researchers of the WFPHA and its International Immunization Policy Taskforce, they assessed the state of the changes in vaccination coverage in the EU between 2010 and 2021 based on the World Health Organization (WHO) vaccination indicators of Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTP) 1st dose, DTP 3rd dose, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib3), Hepatitis B 3rd dose (HepB3), measles 1st dose, measles 2nd dose, and polio 3rd dose. They summarized key learnings and trends in childhood vaccination within the EU, with a focus on current challenges and enablers.

Childhood Vaccination Coverage Rates in the EU between 2010 & 2021

According to the article:

• For all vaccines assessed, a high degree of variation and fluctuation in coverage rates in the EU between 2010 and 2021 can be observed.
• There is a general pattern of declining coverage across vaccines in 2019 compared to 2010.
• Lower-performing countries, such as Austria or Romania, show more frequent or more severe fluctuations across vaccines.
• Higher-performing countries tend to have little or no fluctuation in coverage rates.

Variations Show Vulnerability

Variations or fluctuations in vaccination coverage rates are a concern. Vaccine fluctuations indicate the fragility of vaccination coverages and of the immunization ecosystem. Strong efforts are needed to ensure countries have robust and resilient immunization systems.

Factors Causing Fluctuations in Childhood Vaccination Coverage Rates in the EU

The article summarized the following barriers causing fluctuations in vaccination coverage rates in the EU:

• Structural barriers (e.g., having to take time off work to get a child vaccinated)
• Delays in vaccine procurement
• Vaccine hesitancy (among the public and/or health care professionals)
• Spread of misinformation about vaccination
• The COVID-19 pandemic
• The Ukraine crisis

Enablers for Increasing Childhood Vaccination Coverage Rates in the EU

The article summarized the following enablers for increasing vaccination coverage rates in the EU:

• Easy access to vaccine administration
• Outreach services and catch-up campaigns
• Vaccination policies (depending on local context)
• Real-time systematic data collection
• Communication between individuals and healthcare workers regarding vaccines
• Sending vaccine reminders
• Awareness-raising and education campaigns
• Easily accessible and reliable information materials about vaccination

Recommendations for Improving Childhood Vaccination Coverage Rates in the EU Based on the WFPHA’s Policy

The article summarized the following recommendations for improving childhood vaccination coverage rates in the EU based on the WFPHA International Immunization Policy Taskforce’s key recommendations to improve the resilience of childhood vaccination programs in the EU for policy makers to take forward at EU and national levels:

Facilitate access to vaccination

• Increase range of providers to administer vaccination
• Enable providers to administer vaccinations outside of the site where they are employed (e.g., administer vaccines at childcare facilities)
• Additional hours to access vaccinations (e.g., outside of regular work hours)

Develop mitigation strategies and plans to respond to VPD outbreak

• Ensure sufficient infrastructure and health worker capacity

Increase use of digital technologies

• Improve real-time data collection and disease surveillance systems
• Electronic immunization records
• Automated vaccination reminders

Improve education and awareness regarding the value of vaccination

• Public awareness and communication campaigns
• Public health education programs

Considering the convergence of the current COVID-19 and Ukraine crises, the article recommended concrete crisis preparedness plans to ensure immunity gaps do not further exacerbate the disruption of vaccination systems.

Big Tobacco’s Dirty Tricks

Since its inception, the tobacco industry has been at the forefront of influencing public opinion and disrupting health policy through various sophisticated and deceptive methods. As evidence has mounted supporting the undisputed deadly effects of tobacco products, the industry has found ways to adapt and thrive. They have succeeded in attracting enough new smokers to support industry growth despite losing eight million of their consumers annually to tobacco-related deaths. The sphere of influence of multi-billion dollar tobacco companies extends to the fields of scientific research, politics, law, education, and the media.

The WFPHA Tobacco Control Working Group has published a casebook entitled Big Tobacco’s Dirty Tricks: A Casebook of Seven Key Tactics Used by the Tobacco Industry which contains seven articles discussing key tactics used by tobacco corporations to improve their brand, hinder their opponents, and undermine tobacco control measures globally. The cases provide insights into the industry’s methods as they trick, manipulate, bribe, and threaten in the eternal quest for profit. Each article outlines a particular tactic, demonstrates examples where it has occurred, and offers recommendations for how individuals, professionals, organizations and governments can recognize and counteract them.

To evaluate readers’ feedback on the articles and investigate attitudes toward the tobacco industry tactics, a brief survey is provided. The quick anonymous survey can be accessed with the link below.

The more informed our society is about the tactics used by Big Tobacco, the better chance we have of effectively imposing tobacco control measures, reducing consumption globally and preventing tobacco-related illness and death.

Welcoming New Members

On May 19, 2022, during the General Assembly of the World Federation of Public Health Associations, member organizations have welcomed 3 new members; the Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET), the European Network of Medical Residents in Public Health (EuroNet MRPH), and World Patients Alliance.

We look forward to working together towards our shared goals of protecting and promoting health & wellbeing worldwide.

Welcoming New President

On May 19, 2022, the WFPHA formally welcomes its new President Prof. Luis Eugenio de Souza. He will hold the role of President for the next two years.

Luis is a professor at the Federal University of Bahia and a leader in health equity and sustainable development!

We Are Hiring!

The World Federation of Public Health Associations is currently looking for a Communication Officer (30%) for the International Office in Geneva, Switzerland.

The WFPHA is an international, non-profit, nongovernmental organization composed of over 130 associations member, mostly multidisciplinary national public health associations, and representing around 5 million public health professionals worldwide. WFPHA is accredited as an NGO in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO). The Federation is also accredited to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), holds consultation status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and holds observer status with Codex Alimentarius of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

The Communications Officer (30%) will be responsible for developing, leading, and implementing the scientific communication strategy for the World Congress on Public Health.

Key Responsibilities

• Writing and editing of original content (letters, articles, statements, press releases, newsletters, etc.) in the area of global public health.
• Providing content for different platforms (website and social media).
• Producing visual content for social media.
• Executing external digital communications (website, social media, email/text campaigns, Google AdWords, etc.).
• Liaising and coordinating with stakeholders.
• Maintaining a database of media organizations and contacts within them.

Qualification and Experience

• University degree in Communications, Journalism, International Relations or similar.
• Strong knowledge of and experience with global public health.
• 4+ years prior experience in communication & press work, as well as social media. Previous experience in managing events’ communication would be an asset.
• Previous experience with congress communication would be an asset.
• Excellent command of English; further languages would be an asset.
• Excellent writing and editing skills.
• Knowledge and experience using the Adobe Creative apps including Photoshop, InDesign, Acrobat, Premiere Elements, and other graphic design software.
• Knowledge and experience in producing and posting multimedia content for the web and social media.
• Knowledge of MS Office.
• Comfortable with new technologies.
• Eager to work within a multicultural and international environment.
• A good team player with a “can-do” attitude.
• Good at multi-tasking and working with strict deadlines.

Location

In-person or remote with one-week full time in Rome, Italy, in May 2023.

Period

Starts as soon as possible for 12 months.

Application Deadline

15 May 2022 (Midnight, CEST)

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying for the position, please send your CV and motivation letter to Dr Marta Lomazzi: marta.lomazzi@wfpha.org

Human Rights Day 2021

On Human Rights Day 2021, we are aware of the persistence of enormous inequities in the world, which are a flagrant disregard for human rights. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic not only revealed these inequalities but also contributed to their exacerbation.

The 2021 United Nations Theme for Human Rights Day is EQUALITY – Reducing inequalities, advancing human rights. The International Federation of Social Workers and World Federation of Public Health Association jointly advance a statement to continue to advocate with the United Nations, governments, companies and civil societies for the promotion of equity and respect for human rights, starting with the equitable distribution of vaccines and guaranteeing the universal right to sustainable development.