Vaccinations can protect against many infectious diseases such as measles, whooping cough or polio (poliomyelitis). Vaccination rates against diseases other than COVID-19 have declined worldwide as a result of the pandemic. The aim of European Immunisation Week is to draw attention to the importance of vaccinations for protecting our health and the need for revaccination when routine vaccinations are missed. The campaign is an annual initiative from the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organization (WHO). The Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, the Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedicines, is participating in this year's WHO campaign, which runs from 23 to 29 April. The Institute supports the goal of achieving a sufficient level of immunisation among the world's population.
Vaccinations have improved the health of many children and adults. One of the achievements brought about by effective vaccines was the eradication of polio in Europe. The WHO declared its European Region polio-free in 2002. The number of cases of other diseases, such as rubella, tetanus, mumps, or whooping cough, has also declined significantly in Europe over the past 20 years, according to the WHO. However, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 1.2 million children in the WHO European Region have missed a scheduled vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR). Measles is particularly dangerous for young children, and the number of cases in Europe is increasing. In order to completely eradicate measles and prevent the re-emergence of other diseases, it is important to maintain high vaccination rates.
Vaccination recommendations seek to ensure optimal immunisation by taking age and time intervals between vaccinations into account. For example, the immune system of young children reacts differently than that of adults. Therefore, the vaccine products intended for different age groups vary in some cases. More than one vaccine dose is required to achieve and maintain optimal protection against most vaccine-preventable diseases. Each dose is timed to boost or maintain protection. The Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) at the Robert Koch-Institut (RKI) makes the vaccination recommendations for Germany.
This year's European Immunisation Week kicks off a "Year of Immunisation", which highlights the need for children in particular to make up for missed vaccinations. The aim of the WHO is also to promote dialogue between patients and health professionals on the subject of vaccinations. If a vaccine dose is missed or administered late, the risk of infection and serious illness increases. It is therefore important to regularly check your vaccination records with your doctor, to get vaccinated in a timely manner, and to make up for missed vaccination doses if necessary.
The quality, safety and efficacy of vaccines are thoroughly tested by regulatory authorities worldwide. The Paul-Ehrlich-Institut is the German authority responsible for the authorisation of vaccines – i.e. the evaluation of quality, safety and efficacy – as well as for the monitoring of the safety of a vaccine after authorisation. A vaccine product will only be authorised if its benefits clearly outweigh the potential risks. The diverse tasks of Paul-Ehrlich-Institut allow it to contribute to the protection of vaccinated individuals.
Prerequisites to the public use of an authorised vaccine product include carrying out a federal batch test and, upon receipt of a positive result, release of the batch by the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut for the German market. The Paul-Ehrlich-Institut collects and evaluates reports of suspected adverse reactions after vaccination at the national and European levels at the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and, where appropriate, takes, coordinates, or initiates risk reduction measures.
The Paul-Ehrlich-Institut also creates transparency in the availability of human vaccine products in cooperation with the vaccine manufacturers. The supply shortage reporting system is an important component to taking appropriate measures to prevent supply shortages as far as possible. Such measures allow everyone to receive their routine vaccinations at the right time.
Updated: 21.04.2023
