Proposal for a Council Recommendation on strengthened cooperation against vaccine preventable diseases

Further information:

The European Commission issued on 26 April 2018 a set of recommendations for how the European Union (EU) can strengthen cooperation in the fight against diseases that can be prevented by vaccines. The proposal focuses on 3 main pillars for action: tackling vaccine hesitancy and improving vaccination coverage; sustainable vaccination policies in the EU; and EU coordination and contribution to global health.

This proposal is a call for joint action to increase vaccination coverage and to ensure that everybody in the European Union has access to vaccination, bridging inequalities and gaps in immunisation. The genuine questions and doubts surrounding vaccination, expressed by citizens throughout Europe, signal the urgent need for Member States and the health community to recognise and respond accordingly. This proposal is a concerted effort to respond to such concerns.

• Primary Source

European Commission: Press Release, 26.04.18: Vaccination: Commission calls for stronger EU cooperation against preventable diseases http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-3457_en.htm

EUR-Lex: SWD(2018)149: Synopsis report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=SWD:2018:149:FIN

EUR-Lex: COM(2018)245: Communication: Strengthened cooperation against vaccine preventable diseases https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2018:245:FIN

Reuters, 26.04.18: EU wants coordinated vaccine push against measles, other diseases https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN1HX22N

Delano, 26.04.18: Luxembourg and EU increase efforts to raise vaccination rate http://delano.lu/d/detail/news/luxembourg-and-eu-increase-efforts-raise-vaccination-rate/177322

EurActiv, 27.04.18: EU health chief: Time for scientists to be heard under new vaccination proposals https://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/news/eu-health-chief-time-for-scientists-to-be-heard-under-new-vaccination-proposals/

EurActiv [Opinion]: Reaping the full benefits of vaccination https://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/opinion/equity-in-access-to-gain-full-potential-of-vaccination/

European Commission [Q&A]: EU cooperation on vaccine preventable diseases http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-18-3458_en.htm

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