Different strategies, including mobile clinics and community engagement, are necessary to address the diverse needs of communities and improve vaccination rates.

Recent data from ECDC indicates a nearly ten-fold increase in measles infections in 2024, primarily driven by declining vaccination rates.

Vaccination has historically saved millions of lives by effectively controlling diseases like measles, polio, diphtheria, and pertussis, underscoring the urgent need to reverse current trends.

The rising cases of diseases such as whooping cough and diphtheria further emphasize the need for high and equitable vaccine coverage to protect vulnerable populations.

Pamela Rendi-Wagner, Director of ECDC, emphasizes that maintaining high vaccination coverage is essential to safeguard public health.

In 2024, Europe witnessed a significant resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases, with over 127,000 reported cases of measles, marking the highest incidence in 27 years.

This alarming trend is attributed to insufficient vaccination coverage, which poses a serious threat to public health and undermines decades of progress in disease control.

To effectively prevent outbreaks, a vaccination coverage rate of at least 95% with two doses of the MMR vaccine is necessary, yet only four EU countries currently meet this standard.

Routine childhood immunization rates are stagnating or declining in several regions, with over half a million children missing essential vaccines annually, increasing their vulnerability to diseases.

In response to these challenges, WHO and UNICEF are urging countries to prioritize vaccine funding, improve accessibility, and build public trust in vaccination efforts.

European Immunization Week, running from April 27 to May 3, 2025, aims to highlight the critical importance of vaccination in preventing disease outbreaks.

Continued investment in surveillance and outbreak investigations is vital for monitoring vaccine-preventable diseases and addressing immunity gaps within the population.