Review
Vaccine-preventable diseases in Europe: where do we stand? Expert Review of Vaccines Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by University of Connecticut on 01/09/15 For personal use only.
Expert Rev. Vaccines 13(8), 979–987 (2014)
Sabine Wicker*1 and Helena C Maltezou2 1 Occupational Health Service, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany 2 Department for Interventions in Health-Care Facilities, Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3–5 Agrafon Street, 15123 Athens, Greece *Author for correspondence: Tel.: +49 696 301 4511 Fax: +49 696 301 6385 [email protected]
During the second half of the 20th century, vaccinations led to the control or even eradication of several vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) in Europe. However, outbreaks of VPDs continue to occur even in countries with well-established vaccination programs. Reasons include the existence of under-vaccinated populations, the increasing anti-vaccination movement and the increasing movement of populations across borders. Ensuring adequate levels of herd immunity is the only reliable method for preventing epidemics and a re-emergence of VPDs. In order to achieve this, more flexible vaccine delivery platforms are needed targeting the less-privileged people, especially in the context of the current economic crisis. Healthcare personnel and healthcare systems should be prepared to address these challenges in the following years. KEYWORDS: control • eradication • Europe • immunization • outbreaks • re-emergence • vaccination • vaccine-preventable diseases
During the second half of the 20th century, vaccinations led to dramatic decline in the incidence or even eradication of many vaccinepreventable diseases (VPDs) [1]. Worldwide, in the first decade of the 21st century, approximately 2.5 million deaths were prevented each year among children aged
Vaccine-preventable diseases in Europe: where do we stand? Expert Review of Vaccines Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by University of Connecticut on 01/09/15 For personal use only.
Expert Rev. Vaccines 13(8), 979–987 (2014)
Sabine Wicker*1 and Helena C Maltezou2 1 Occupational Health Service, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany 2 Department for Interventions in Health-Care Facilities, Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3–5 Agrafon Street, 15123 Athens, Greece *Author for correspondence: Tel.: +49 696 301 4511 Fax: +49 696 301 6385 [email protected]
During the second half of the 20th century, vaccinations led to the control or even eradication of several vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) in Europe. However, outbreaks of VPDs continue to occur even in countries with well-established vaccination programs. Reasons include the existence of under-vaccinated populations, the increasing anti-vaccination movement and the increasing movement of populations across borders. Ensuring adequate levels of herd immunity is the only reliable method for preventing epidemics and a re-emergence of VPDs. In order to achieve this, more flexible vaccine delivery platforms are needed targeting the less-privileged people, especially in the context of the current economic crisis. Healthcare personnel and healthcare systems should be prepared to address these challenges in the following years. KEYWORDS: control • eradication • Europe • immunization • outbreaks • re-emergence • vaccination • vaccine-preventable diseases
During the second half of the 20th century, vaccinations led to dramatic decline in the incidence or even eradication of many vaccinepreventable diseases (VPDs) [1]. Worldwide, in the first decade of the 21st century, approximately 2.5 million deaths were prevented each year among children aged
