The Romanian vaccination crisis

8.5.2015

Question for written answer E-007432-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Daniel Buda (PPE)

The draft law on population vaccination is an extremely important initiative for Romanian public health. If this bill fails, there is the risk that Romania will soon be faced with the re-emergence of epidemics that were killing children 50 years ago. Following a study conducted by the National Public Health Institute, the vaccination rate decreased in Bucharest by 20% in 2014 compared to 2013. The main causes for this huge decrease are the discontinuities in vaccine supply and the parents’ refusal to vaccinate their children. This draft law must address several very important aspects that can be found in several European countries, but not in Romania. The lack of vaccine doses in hospitals, the lack of communication between the general practitioner and the patient, as well as the patients’ lack of trust in the authorities and the medical system lead to a disaster that will be impossible to repair.

What are the mechanisms whereby the Commission can introduce mandatory vaccination in EU Member States in case of certain diseases that can cause the death of citizens?