Warnings against dropping vaccination rates in the EU
The challenge for public health due to waning public confidence in vaccination, especially for children, will be up for a debate on Wednesday.
Parliament will adopt a resolution on Thursday.
The draft text from the Environment and Public Health committee notes that epidemiological data show significant gaps in vaccines being accepted in different regions. This results in insufficient coverage rates to ensure the public is adequately protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.
MEPs stress that increased transparency in evaluating vaccines, their possible side-effects and their adjuvants and public funding of independent research programmes would contribute to restoring confidence in vaccination.
Background
Vaccination prevents an estimated 2.5 million deaths each year worldwide and reduces disease-specific treatment costs, including antimicrobial treatments. In the period of 2008-2015, there were 215,000 cases of Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPDs), excluding influenza, in Europe.
The European Commission is to present an initiative for a strengthened cooperation to combat vaccine preventable diseases in the second quarter of 2018.
Debate: Wednesday 18 April
Vote: Thursday 19 April
Procedure: oral questions to Council and the Commission, with resolution
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