[Source: Eurosurveillance, full text: (LINK). Abstract, edited.]
Eurosurveillance, Volume 17, Issue 22, 31 May 2012

Research articles

Mandatory and recommended vaccination in the EU, Iceland and Norway: results of the VENICE 2010 survey on the ways of implementing national vaccination programmes


M Haverkate<SUP>1</SUP>, F D?Ancona ()<SUP>2</SUP>, C Giambi<SUP>2</SUP>, K Johansen<SUP>3</SUP>, P L Lopalco<SUP>3</SUP>, V Cozza<SUP>4</SUP>, E Appelgren<SUP>2</SUP>, on behalf of the VENICE project gatekeepers and contact points<SUP>5</SUP>
  1. Radboud University, Nijmegen, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
  2. Istituto Superiore di Sanit?, Rome, Italy
  3. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Stockholm, Sweden
  4. University of Bari ?Aldo Moro?, Bari, Italy
  5. The members of the group are listed at the end of the article
<HR>
Citation style for this article: Haverkate M, D?Ancona F, Giambi C, Johansen K, Lopalco PL, Cozza V, Appelgren E, on behalf of the VENICE project gatekeepers and contact points. Mandatory and recommended vaccination in the EU, Iceland and Norway: results of the VENICE 2010 survey on the ways of implementing national vaccination programmes . Euro Surveill. 2012;17(22):pii=20183. Available online: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/View...rticleId=20183
Date of submission: 18 October 2011 <HR>This report provides an updated overview of recommended and mandatory vaccinations in the European Union (EU), Iceland and Norway, considering the differences in vaccine programme implementation between countries. In 2010, the Vaccine European New Integrated Collaboration Effort (VENICE) network, conducted a survey among the VENICE project gatekeepers to learn more about how national vaccination programmes are implemented, whether recommended or mandatory. Information was collected from all 27 EU Member States, Iceland and Norway. In total 15 countries do not have any mandatory vaccinations; the remaining 14 have at least one mandatory vaccination included in their programme. Vaccination against polio is mandatory for both children and adults in 12 countries; diphtheria and tetanus vaccination in 11 countries and hepatitis B vaccination in 10 countries. For eight of the 15 vaccines considered, some countries have a mixed strategy of recommended and mandatory vaccinations. Mandatory vaccination may be considered as a way of improving compliance to vaccination programmes. However, compliance with many programmes in Europe is high, using only recommendations. More information about the diversity in vaccine offer at European level may help countries to adapt vaccination strategies based on the experience of other countries. However, any proposal on vaccine strategies should be developed taking into consideration the local context habits.
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