This newsletter highlights the latest immunization-related activities conducted by WHO/Europe together with health authorities in Member States and partners in line with the strategic priorities agreed on by Member States in the European Immunization Agenda 2030 (EIA2030).* 

Joint statement by the WHO Regional Director UNICEF Regional Director and European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety

European Immunization Week 2024: 50 years of protecting generations past, present and future through immunization. Read more

Another good reason to vaccinate – to keep life-saving medicines working

Vaccination is a key component in any strategy for the control of antimicrobial resistance and is highly effective in preventing diseases that might otherwise lead to the use of antimicrobial medicines, such as antibiotics. Read more

WHO Poland marks European Immunization Week

Over 500 participants took part in the Family Immunization Run, held at the National Stadium on 21 April 2024. Amateur athletes and children ran alongside professional athletes, and visitors had a chance to try other sports activities and take part in quizzes about the theme of immunization and vaccines, aimed to increase public understanding and trust. Read more

Unpacking the Past, Present, and Future of Global Immunization

European Immunization Week marks the 50th anniversary of the WHO's Expanded Programme on Immunization, now known as the Essential Programme on Immunization. Listen

ENSATalk, episode1, featuring WHO's Brett Craig

European Nursing Students Association debuted their podcast in celebration of European Immunization Week.
In conversation with WHO's Brett Craig, they discuss the essential skills nursing students need to effectively communicate about immunization. Listen

WHO Europe x IPSF EURO, episode 1, featuring Dr Jose Hagan from WHO/Europe

WHO Europe x IPSF EURO, episode 2, featuring Dr Mark Muscat

In a podcast series of the International Pharmaceutical Students' Federation celebrating European Immunization Week and the 50-year anniversary of EPI, Dr Jose Hagan addresses the challenges of immunization and eliminating disease and Dr Mark Muscat talks about the importance of dispelling vaccine myths and communicating the importance of immunization.

Essential laboratory equipment arrives in Bulgaria as part of a broader project to protect the health of Ukrainian refugees

This equipment will help increase capacity to detect and prevent the spread of many infectious diseases – such as measles, hepatitis and cholera – that could pose a particular threat to displaced people living in crowded conditions. Read more

New WHO collaborating centre for understanding and detecting diphtheria

The Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority in Germany, and its Centre for Diphtheria, has been designated as a WHO collaborating centre. Read more

Boosting vaccine storage, transportation, handling, and management in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan has made remarkable progress in enhancing its immunization services in the last 3 years thanks to a procurement effort, led by WHO and funded by the European Union (EU), to strengthen the country’s cold chain system through improved vaccine storage, transportation, handling and management. Read more

EU and WHO collaborate to protect vulnerable populations from vaccine-preventable diseases by ensuring immunization equity

The European Union (EU) and WHO/Europe joined forces in a groundbreaking €3 million project aimed at achieving and sustaining high and equitable immunization coverage in the EU and non-EU countries associated with the EU4Health programme. Read more

A lifelong commitment to ensuring children receive the care and protection they deserve

Mrs Umida Joraeeva has dedicated herself to caring for children as a nurse since 1993. Her vaccination room is, located an hour’s drive from Uzbekistan’s capital, Tashkent. Read more

Guardian of health in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan: Jiydekul Yrysbayeva’s immunization journey

With a particular focus on vaccination, Jiydekul Yrysbayeva plays a crucial role in safeguarding the lives of her fellow Kyrgyz. Through her efforts, she not only administers vaccines, but also educates her community about the importance of immunization. Read more

"We got vaccinated against measles to be safe" - refugees' experience in the Republic of Moldova

Due to the war in Ukraine, many children were not vaccinated on time, and some of those who were vaccinated could not present the necessary documentation in their host countries. WHO is working together with partners to protect vulnerable populations including refugees from vaccine-preventable diseases, ensuring equity in the immunization process so that no one is left behind.

The European Vaccine Action Plan (‎2015–2020)‎: final report

This report assesses the Region’s progress towards the goals, objectives and targets of the European Vaccine Action Plan, based on data reported through the WHO–UNICEF Joint Reporting Form, together with other publicly available documents and reports. Read more

Twelfth meeting of the European Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination: 8–11 September 2023, Copenhagen, Denmark 

The meeting report reviews the 2022 annual status updates from Member States of the WHO European Region. The RVC concluded that, by the end of 2022, 33 Member States were verified as having eliminated measles and 49 Member States were verified as having eliminated rubella.

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EpiData 4/2024

Reported measles cases for the period May 2023—April  2024 (data as of 29 May 2024). Read more 

Measles and rubella monthly update – WHO European Region – May 2024

Data as of 29 May 2024. Read more