WHO/Task Force for Global Health/Ilya Karimdjanov
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Vaccines and immunization

    Overview

     

    Immunization is one of the most cost-effective ways to save lives and promote good health and well-being throughout the life course. Every year, vaccines save millions of lives, and millions more people are protected from disease and disability. By preventing many serious early-childhood infectious diseases, like polio and measles, immunization helps children grow into healthy adults. Other vaccines given early in life help prevent liver and cervical cancer many years later, and vaccination of older adults protects them from influenza, COVID-19 and other serious diseases.

    The WHO European Region has made great progress in recent decades on many of these fronts, but there are still gaps in vaccination coverage that put especially the most vulnerable at risk. Access to vaccines, including against human papillomavirus and SARS-CoV2, is also not equitable within and among countries.

     

     

    Impact

    Immunization is one of the “best buys” in global health, a strong foundation of the primary health care system and an indisputable human right. By preventing disease and deaths, it plays a crucial role in achieving — either directly or indirectly — 14 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG3: “to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”.

    The European Region has relatively high immunization coverage compared to other regions, allowing it to sustain polio-free status since 2002 and achieve significant progress in reducing the burden of measles, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and other diseases. However, gaps in immunization coverage persist, leaving many people at all ages vulnerable to serious and preventable diseases.

    WHO response

    With WHO/Europe support, all Member States in the Region are working to implement the European Immunization Agenda 2030 (EIA) – a strategy to create stronger and more resilient immunization systems and structures, based on the key pillars of immunization equity, life course immunization and tailored local solutions that address vaccination demand and acceptance in the population.

    EIA2030 is one of the flagship initiatives of the European Programme of Work 2020–2025 — “United Action for Better Health in Europe”, which was adopted by the WHO Regional Committee for Europe in September 2020.

    News

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    Multimedia

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    Publications

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    Thirteenth meeting of the European Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination: 10–12 September 2024, Copenhagen, Denmark

    The Thirteenth meeting of the European Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination (‎RVC)‎ took place in Copenhagen, Denmark...

    Communicating about vaccination with caregivers and patients: facilitator guide

    This facilitator guide accompanies the training module, Communicating about vaccination with caregivers and patients. The facilitator guide provides instructions,...

    Report of the Twenty-fourth Meeting of the European Technical Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (‎ETAGE)‎, Copenhagen, Denmark, 5–6 November 2024

    At its twenty-fourth meeting, held on 5–6 November 2024, the European Technical Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (‎ETAGE)‎ reviewed...

    Documents

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    Data as of 30 September 2024 

    Supporting the deployment of COVID-19 vaccines and routine vaccination systems in the Eastern Partnership - Ukraine

    Reducing health inequities and supporting the uptake of COVID-19 and other vaccines.

    Supporting the deployment of COVID-19 vaccines and routine vaccination systems in the Eastern Partnership - Belarus

    Reducing health inequities and supporting the uptake of COVID-19 and other vaccines. 

    Supporting the deployment of COVID-19 vaccines and routine vaccination systems in the Eastern Partnership - Armenia

    Reducing health inequities and supporting the uptake of COVID-19 and other vaccines.

    Related WHO collaborating centres

    WHO collaborating centres are institutions that form an international collaborative network carrying out activities to support WHO’s programmes at all levels. They provide an opportunity for WHO to utilize their inherent expertise for the benefit of all Member States.

    View the list of related collaborating centres