2024-04-23 11:42:03
During the period of confinement linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, many contagious pathogens were reduced, but with the deconfinement and a certain distrust of vaccines, epidemics of diseases preventable by vaccination, such as measles and whooping cough, are on the rise.
Dr Andrea Ammon, Director of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), said: “It is disheartening that despite decades of evidence establishing the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, EU/EEA member states and the world are still grappling with outbreaks of several vaccine-preventable diseases “. She stressed the critical importance of vaccination and a rapid response to epidemics to prevent these diseases.
Emer Cooke, executive director of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), highlighted the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, saying this is supported by data collected globally over many decades. She encouraged individuals to turn to independent sources of advice, emphasizing the importance of consulting solid, factual scientific evidence.
Whether you are a Baby Boomer, a Millennial or a Gen Z, ensure you seek out 🔍 independent and factual sources of information before making vaccination decisions. Scientific evidence demonstrates that vaccines protect us and are safe.#UnitedInProtection #EIW2024 pic.twitter.com/3ujE3ivJW8
— EU Medicines Agency (@EMA_News) April 21, 2024
Measles and whooping cough on the rise
Sabrina Bacci, head of vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization at CEPCM, said that in 2022 there would be fewer than 200 cases of measles; this figure has now risen to 5,770 recorded cases, including five deaths. Since infants under one year old cannot be vaccinated, it is important that the entire community be vaccinated; ideally, 95% of the population should be vaccinated.
Ms. Bacci also highlighted the increase in the number of cases of whooping cough, a respiratory disease. In 2023 and 2024, cases increased tenfold compared to 2022 and 2021. As with measles, the pertussis vaccine is both effective and safe, but it cannot be administered in full to newborns and infants. , these groups therefore depend on broader vaccination of those around them.
Romania accounts for around 80% of these cases.
Adult vaccination: a socio-economic advantage
Vaccination policy often focuses on vaccinating young people, but it is increasingly clear that vaccinating adults can not only protect health, but is also a useful investment to support the economy. This is all the more important in a world where health services are under strain.
The Office of Health Economics, which describes itself as the world’s oldest independent health research organization, has studied the socioeconomic value of adult vaccination programs. The study examined the consequences of adult vaccination programs once morest seasonal influenza, pneumococcal infections, herpes zoster and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in ten countries (Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Japan , Poland, South Africa, Thailand and the United States).
According to Sibilia Quilici, executive director of Vaccines Europe, there is an urgent need to recognize vaccination as a capital investment in health. “Adult vaccination programs can return up to 19 times the initial investment. At this time of increasing pressure on EU economies and health systems, there is an urgent need to recognize vaccination as a capital investment in health and adopt a prevention-focused approach. »
Each EU/EEA member state sets its own vaccination schedule, leading to variations regarding age of vaccination, target groups, dose schedule, and whether individual or combination vaccines are administered. . Available data indicates that there is a need to strengthen efforts to combat misinformation and ensure vaccine accessibility for all.
[Édité par Anna Martino]
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