The European Immunization Agenda 2030
The European Vaccine Action Plan 2015–2020 has set a course to control, eliminate or eradicate vaccine-preventable diseases in the WHO European Region. The insistence of the Region’s Member States to launch a “European Immunization Agenda 2030” sets a new course to address inequalities in vaccination coverage between and within countries. It does so by systematically tackling constraints in the supply and delivery of vaccines, including those related to community demand and acceptance, and the need to confront vaccine hesitancy and the spread of misinformation.
This flagship initiative will remobilize political leaders at regional, subregional and country levels to ensure continued high-visibility commitment to high and equitable vaccination coverage within countries. This initiative aims to lead to an upward convergence of vaccination coverage between countries.
Equitable expansion and uptake of vaccines would substantially reduce mortality and morbidity from vaccine-preventable diseases and help to prevent epidemics and pandemics. The anticipation that a new vaccine could bring relief to the COVID-19 crisis gives a new sense of urgency to this initiative. Should the promise of a vaccine against COVID-19 become reality, it will pose familiar challenges, for which the lessons learned through the European Vaccine Action Plan 2015–2020 are relevant. These challenges range from ensuring equitable access, conducting timely operational planning, and addressing regulatory and financial issues, to the need for combining these efforts with those ensuring high seasonal influenza vaccine coverage as well as tackling coverage gaps in national immunization schedules.
The European Immunization Agenda 2030 hinges on innovative programming and targeted local-level intervention for demonstrable impact. This requires a detailed roadmap along with a robust results-based monitoring framework that takes into account not only the specific priorities, needs, capacities and characteristics of the programmes in each country, but also the necessary transparency and solidarity to ensure equitable access to and distribution of vaccines in the Region. With the implementation of European Immunization Agenda 2030, WHO/Europe will, in synergy with global initiatives, strengthen national immunization policies and tailor service delivery to the needs of individuals and communities based on data-enabled informed decisions. It will work with regional, subregional and national institutions and platforms to enhance local ownership and strengthen cross-sector partnerships.
