Giuseppe
Emeritus
[Source: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), full PDF document: (LINK). Extract.]
Individual decision-making and childhood vaccination, 24 May 2013, Stockholm, Sweden
Introduction
The European Union (EU) aspires to be measles-free, which will require high vaccination coverage across the entire region [1].
Yet in recent years there have been fairly large measles outbreaks in Europe; one very plausible interpretation from the 2011 outbreak in France, for example, is that this is due to ?persistent suboptimal vaccine coverage?[2].
Among the many important reasons for suboptimal vaccination coverage, a significant one that certain population segments actively decide not to vaccinate.
ECDC has previously investigated key barriers to vaccination among hard-to-reach populations [3], and yet it is commonly observed that in addition to such populations, some segments of the general European population may also be sceptical towards vaccination.
In order to explore this topic in greater depth, ECDC organised a meeting which took place in Stockholm on 24 May 2013.
The aim was to exchange cross-disciplinary perspectives, from epidemiology, anthropology, sociology and behavioural psychology, in order to explore the issue of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine refusals among the European ?middle classes?.
In particular, objectives for this meeting workshop included:
The meeting was conducted under Chatham House Rules, meaning that participants could express any opinion they wished with the knowledge that the meeting report would not attribute statements to particular individuals.
(?)
________
The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
Stockholm, October 2013
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Individual decision-making and childhood vaccination, 24 May 2013, Stockholm, Sweden
Introduction
The European Union (EU) aspires to be measles-free, which will require high vaccination coverage across the entire region [1].
Yet in recent years there have been fairly large measles outbreaks in Europe; one very plausible interpretation from the 2011 outbreak in France, for example, is that this is due to ?persistent suboptimal vaccine coverage?[2].
Among the many important reasons for suboptimal vaccination coverage, a significant one that certain population segments actively decide not to vaccinate.
ECDC has previously investigated key barriers to vaccination among hard-to-reach populations [3], and yet it is commonly observed that in addition to such populations, some segments of the general European population may also be sceptical towards vaccination.
In order to explore this topic in greater depth, ECDC organised a meeting which took place in Stockholm on 24 May 2013.
The aim was to exchange cross-disciplinary perspectives, from epidemiology, anthropology, sociology and behavioural psychology, in order to explore the issue of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine refusals among the European ?middle classes?.
In particular, objectives for this meeting workshop included:
- to explore the key drivers behind recent trends in measles epidemiology and vaccination coverage in Europe
- to identify and conceptualise the myriad social and political factors that affect individual decision-making as concerns vaccination
- to identify and examine best practices in public health for monitoring and addressing public mistrust in vaccines
- to identify potential ECDC activities in this field.
The meeting was conducted under Chatham House Rules, meaning that participants could express any opinion they wished with the knowledge that the meeting report would not attribute statements to particular individuals.
(?)
________
The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
Stockholm, October 2013
-
------