Immunization: The Success Paradox - 33 Countries From Ireland To Tajikistan Take Part In European Immunization Week 2008

Main Category: Immune System / Vaccines
Also Included In: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses;  Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 22 Apr 2008 - 1:00 PST

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In 2007 western European countries recorded a higher number of measles cases than their neighbours to the east and all are becoming vulnerable to the disease, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe as 33 countries (1) roll into action for the third European Immunization Week (EIW), 21-27 April.

"In 2007, 60% of measles cases across this region occurred in western Europe," said Dr Marc Danzon, WHO Regional Director for Europe. "This dangerous development is attributable to a combination of vaccine scepticism born of ideological positions and, ironically, of the success of vaccination programmes with earlier generations."

Noting that immunization remained one of the most successful and cost-effective health systems health intervention in medical history, he said: "People in western Europe have little memory of the devastating toll in death and disability taken by vaccine-preventable diseases so, paradoxically, this has led to an ominous shift in risk perception from the disease itself to the vaccine."

While average immunization coverage rates are relatively high - over 90% - in this vast region of 53 countries (2), full protection can only be achieved by 95% coverage rates. High immunity is the best defence against these diseases, preventing them gaining a foothold in the community. However, regional averages mask inequities both within and between countries.

These inequities give rise to statistics that are stark: in the European Region, 32,000 children still die each year from vaccine-preventable diseases and some 600,000 infants miss their basic vaccine doses of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP). In addition, a crowded health priority agenda is endangering vaccination programmes region-wide. "Member States cannot afford to take their eye off the vaccination goal," said Dr Danzon. "European Immunization Week is about helping them keep a steady focus on it ."

Observing that all countries had pockets of people who miss out on the vaccine safety net, the WHO Regional Director for Europe said that health systems must be strengthened to remove barriers, such as lack of information, physical access like distance, and costs, to ensure coverage across the board. "It is the right of all children - of everyone - to be immunized," he stressed.

Particular emphasis must be placed on reaching the marginalised, such as migrant populations, displaced persons, the poor, the isolated and children in institutions.

But the WHO European Region can boast many real success stories:

- Eradication of deadly diseases, such as smallpox
- Polio-free since 2002
- Measles cases down by more than 90% from over 200,000 cases 10 years ago
- 29 Member States have already achieved the measles elimination target set for 2010
- 45 countries have carried out universal hepatitis B immunization programmes, the remainder provide it for well-defined risk groups only
- 37 countries have introduced Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) against bacterial meningitis into routine programmes
- Regional average immunization coverage rates of over 90%
- All Member States have advanced in setting up quality assurance systems to guarantee the safety and quality of vaccines

As part of the EIW's official launch programme, the WHO Regional Director will host Her Royal Highness (HRH) Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, in the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana. HRH Crown Princess Mary, Patron of the WHO European Region since 2006, will visit health care facilities with Dr Danzon where immunization activities are under way. HRH Princess Mary and the Regional Director will also address members of the diplomatic corps, health officials and the media.

EIW 2008 aims to help Member States fulfil their obligations in relation to universal immunization. Using a regional guiding framework, they analyse and address deficiencies in their respective country immunization programmes. European Immunization Week is a Region-wide initiative, led and coordinated by WHO Regional Office for Europe. Partner organizations contribute to action at the national level (3).

Efforts in the European Region reflect similar efforts now taking place on the other side of the Atlantic with Vaccination Week in the Americas coordinated by the WHO Regional Office for the Americas.

-- http://www.euro.who.int/images/VPI/fig2_e.gif - regional map measles outbreaks 2006-07 and
-- http://www.euro.who.int/images/VPI/fig1_e.gif - graph illustrating the sharp percentage decline in bacterial meningitis incidence following introduction of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine

For further information on European Immunization Week 2008 go to here.

Footnotes:

(1) Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Switzerland, Tajikistan, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom and Uzbekistan.

(2) Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Uzbekistan.

(3) A range of important regional and national partners, including UNICEF and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), support the implementation of European Immunization Week.

World Health Organisation Europe