World Immunization Week: A Pledge for Health Equity and Innovation

Blog by Cyril Schiever, MSD Senior Vice President and President of the Mid-Europe Region

As we commemorate World Immunization Week, let's focus on the critical role of vaccines in public health. It's not just the success of immunization but the profound impact it has on preventing diseases that burden our societies, including cancers linked to viral infections like Human papillomavirus (HPV).

In the last few years, we've seen the resilience and challenges of health systems firsthand. This experience underscores the undeniable value of vaccines—not just as a medical breakthrough but as a cornerstone of public health. Equitable access to health and preventive care are the pillars of successful public health policies.

From Goals to Impact

Reflecting on our ongoing efforts, Europe's Beating Cancer Plan remains a beacon of hope and a call to action. It's ambitious yet vital, aiming for a 90% HPV vaccination rate among girls by 2030, with significant vaccine increases among boys. Such goals are targets and commitments to future generations, ensuring a substantial reduction in HPV-related cancers across Europe.

However, our challenge doesn't end with setting goals. It extends into ensuring that these goals lead to tangible outcomes.?Disparities in vaccine access remain a significant hurdle, particularly across EU countries. It is important to acknowledge that progress in immunization remains heterogeneous, offering an opportunity for countries to learn from their neighbors and adopt successful strategies.

Harnessing Data for Health

For example, precise data collection and sharing, as envisioned by the European Health Data Space (EHDS), will enhance our understanding and implementation of vaccination programs. This initiative is poised to revolutionize healthcare by making data accessible and actionable, supporting our fight against cancer more effectively.

While we celebrate the?strides?we've made in vaccine development and distribution, there is still work to be done in prevention. Allocating adequate resources to prevention is crucial.?According to Vaccines Europe, only 0.5% of national healthcare budgets are currently spent on immunization, and a slight increase in this allocation could?significantly impact?population health.

The next years offer an opportunity to improve vaccination programs further. There are still some gaps to close for infant vaccination programs - the measles outbreak is a good reminder. We should also increase our focus on adolescent and adult vaccination, notably HPV and PCV. Strengthening the call for action, investment, and awareness in these areas will help us achieve better health outcomes and prevent vaccine-preventable diseases.

Solidarity and Collective Action in World Immunization Week

On our journey, solidarity and collective action will be vital to achieving health equity and innovation. Whether through enhanced policy measures, public-private partnerships, or community engagement, every stakeholder has a pivotal role.

This World Immunization Week,?let's recommit ourselves to working towards a world where prevention through vaccination is recognized not just as a healthcare strategy but as a fundamental human right. By working together, we can ensure that no one is left behind in our quest to eliminate vaccine-preventable diseases, including HPV-related cancers. Our actions today will define the health of tomorrow.

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