Childhood immunisation in the European Union

Abstract

Harmonisation of working conditions is one of the major aims of the European Union. The Confederation of European Specialists in Paediatrics has elaborated documents on the harmonisation of immunisations in 1987 and 1992. The new and completely updated version focuses on the variations of immunisation practices and schedules and gives criteria for minimal agreement of immunisation schedules among the member countries. Catch-up vaccinations and false contra-indications are especially stressed.

Estimation of the basic reproduction number of measles during an outbreak in a partially vaccinated population

“…mass campaigns in the United Kingdom and the Americas, multidose regimes in the United States and Scandinavia), several authors [9][10][11][12] have stressed the need for all EU countries to increase coverage to target levels of 95 % as recommended in the ' Health for all in the year 2000 ' programme of WHO Europe. The epidemic we have reported is therefore further evidence that vaccination levels of 70-75 % are insufficient to prevent outbreaks, especially in school settings.…”

Immunisation in the current management of cystic fibrosis patients

“…With regard to the pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, national recommendations should be followed [13,87]. More evidence is needed before recommending conjugate pneumococcal vaccine to all CF infants in countries without national implementation of the vaccine and to confirm whether they offer a better alternative for CF lung transplant recipients as compared to the classic 23-valent vaccines.…”

“…Antibodies develop in approximately 95% of children immunised at 12 months and 98% of those immunised at 15 months of age. Recommendations for a booster at 4, 6 or 12 years have been implemented in the mid-nineties after school-based outbreaks, to prolong immunity and possibly eradicate measles [13,36,37]. More than 99% of individuals who receive 2 doses of measles vaccine (separated by at least 1 month) after the age of 1 year, develop serologic evidence of measles immunity [37].…”

“…Current national vaccination schedules in the European countries differ widely, for instance for hepatitis A and B, and some booster vaccinations and we are far from a uniform European immunisation system [13,14]. This applies to both to different single vaccines as well as combinations.…”

“…The average coverage for ''classic'' vaccinations such as diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and poliomyelitis in Europe is insufficient, with many countries attaining only low levels. Therefore vaccine-preventable diseases are not yet sufficiently controlled in Europe [13,14].…”