Highlights of recent immunization-related activities and publications
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Vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization
December 2023
In this issue
Highlights
WHO-EU Partnership
News stories
Recent publications
Upcoming events
This issue of the 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).*
HIGHLIGHTS
Force of the future: co-creating youth action on immunization
61 youth representatives from 36 countries and 44 organizations joined a WHO/Europe collaborative workshop on immunization on 8 December at UN City, Copenhagen, Denmark. The workshop was co-created with participants and WHO technical staff – focused on topics including vaccination status in the European Region, vaccine communication and misinformation, perspectives of youth on challenges to vaccine uptake, the role of health workers in improving vaccine uptake, community engagement and vaccine advocacy on social media.
Read more about the event here.
Meeting of the European Technical Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (ETAGE)
The 23rd annual meeting took place on 5–6 December 2023. During the meeting, ETAGE was updated and consulted on:
- the regional EIA2030 technical progress report and priority areas for national immunization programmes for 2024;
- the status of vaccines in the pipeline, research and development and its relevance in the WHO European Region; and
- respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine developments.
ETAGE conclusions and recommendations will be made available on the WHO/Europe website and in a meeting report.
Read more about the work of the European Technical Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (ETAGE).
Advocacy briefs: What you need to know
New advocacy briefs to inform about a number of vaccine-preventable diseases, addressing the frequently asked questions about the diseases.
WHO-EU PARTNERSHIP
The European Union (EU) and WHO/Europe together provide critical assistance to Member States and territories of the WHO European Region to provide safe and effective vaccination campaigns against COVID-19 and contribute to longer-term strengthening of routine immunization systems. Read more
A revised immunization schedule and catch-up campaign were launched in Armenia. The revised schedule offers an opportunity for catch-up vaccination for children, adolescents and adults who have not previously been vaccinated at the recommended age. Catch-up vaccination is also available to the over 100 000 refugees from the Karabakh region who recently fled to Armenia.
See the photo story
The initiative is part of the EU-funded project “Vaccination saves lives – Supporting the deployment of COVID-19 vaccines and strengthening routine vaccination systems in the Eastern Partnership countries”.
NEWS STORIES
A 30-fold rise of measles cases in 2023 in the WHO European Region warrants urgent action
The WHO European Region is experiencing an alarming rise in measles cases.
Over 30 000 measles cases were reported by 40 of the Region’s 53 Member States between January and October 2023. Read more
A new study offers further proof that the COVID-19 vaccine booster is vital for health workers
A new study in Albania brings fresh evidence that the COVID-19 vaccine booster provides excellent protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection in health-care workers. Read more
Vulnerable? Vaccinate. Protecting the unprotected from COVID-19 and influenza
As autumn turns to winter, the WHO Regional Office for Europe, the European Commission, and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control are urging eligible groups to get vaccinated against both COVID-19 and seasonal influenza. Read more
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Meeting reports
The meetings offered immunization programme managers the opportunity to interact with each other and WHO staff to chart the way forward on the implementation of the European Immunization Agenda 2030, discuss challenges with COVID-19 vaccination, and discuss and share country-specific experiences on specific immunization topics. Read more
The thirty-seventh meeting of the European Regional Commission for Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication, held on 7–8 September 2023, reviewed annual updates submitted by the Member States of the WHO European Region on the status of the national polio eradication programmes in 2022. Read more
Epi updates
This issue of WHO EpiBrief provides an overview of selected epidemiological characteristics of measles and rubella in the WHO European Region based on monthly surveillance data for the first half of 2023. Read more
A monthly summary of the epidemiological data on selected vaccine-preventable diseases in the WHO European Region
Reported measles cases for the period 11//2022—10/2023. Read more
Measles and rubella monthly update - WHO European Region - November 2023
Visualizations of the monthly summary of the epidemiological data on measles and rubella in the WHO European Region. Read more
Other publications
Terms of reference for members of the European Technical Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization Working Group on Hepatitis B
The WHO Regional Committee for Europe adopted the Action plan for the health sector response to viral hepatitis in the WHO European Region which sets the goal of elimination of viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. Read more
UPCOMING EVENTS
The WHO European Region celebrates European Immunization Week (EIW) to raise awareness of the importance of immunization in preventing diseases and protecting life.
WHO/Europe leads and coordinates EIW, and all Member States in the WHO European Region are invited to take part. Regional and national partners, including the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), support implementation.
EIW is organized in conjunction with other WHO regional initiatives and World Immunization Week. Read more
*The activities featured in this newsletter have contributed to the following strategic priorities (SPs) of the European Immunization Agenda 2030:
- SP1: Primary health care and universal health coverage
- SP2: Commitment and demand
- SP3: Coverage and equity
- SP4: Life course and integration
- SP5: Outbreak and emergencies
- SP7: Research and innovation.
CONTACT US
Vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization (VPI)
WHO Regional Office for Europe
UN City, Marmorvej 51
DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
Email: euvaccine@who.int
Website: https://www.who.int/europe/health-topics/vaccines-and-immunization
