EU pledges action on childhood vaccination

The announcement will see intensive efforts to tackle infectious diseases and comes as Europe grapples with a major measles outbreak.

Hungary, which has held the rotating presidency of the European Council since January, made childhood vaccination a major priority and will view the agreement as a major achievement when its term is up at the end of June.

Much of the groundwork for the conclusions agreed this week was laid at an expert conference in Budapest in March at which stakeholders highlighted weaknesses in the quality of immunisation data and communications strategies, as well as the need to target under-vaccinated populations.

Health Ministers described vaccine as the most cost-effective way of preventing infectious diseases in Europe and, building on the work of the expert conference, agreed to share best practices and develop smarter communications campaigns.

There was also a commitment to do more to address the difficulties facing families who migrate within Europe before their children have completed the vaccination schedule.

This has been repeatedly highlighted by health officials at the European Commission who have advocated the development of a ‘’ which would make it easier for children to slot into national immunisation schedules if they move from one EU member state to another.

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