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FEAM Forum event: The impact of COVID-19 on routine vaccination
26 October 2021 - 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm CEST
FEAM Forum event
The impact of COVID-19 on routine vaccination
26 October 2021 | 12.00 – 13.30 (CET) | Zoom
What has been the impact of COVID-19 on routine vaccination programmes?
On 26 October, the FEAM European Biomedical Policy Forum will organise an event on “The impact of COVID-19 on routine vaccination”. From 12:00 to 13:30 (CET), experts from European authorities and stakeholders will provide an overview on the impact that COVID-19 had on routine vaccination.
In the first semester of 2020, pandemic measures to mitigate the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in Europe led to cancellation of routine vaccination appointments for both adults and children. The importance of maintaining routine vaccination programmes in order to prevent further outbreaks of communicable diseases has been stressed by experts and health officials since the beginning of the pandemic. The WHO has also urged countries to ensure that immunization is maintained as much as possible and that surveillance for vaccine-preventable diseases is not interrupted during a pandemic.
In February 2020, in Lombardy – the Italian region epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe –, regional authorities temporarily suspend routine vaccination, with full service resuming about a month and a half later. Studies have also pointed out that due to the pandemic, citizens in other European countries such as France and Germany have had their routine vaccination appointments cancelled.
At a time when more than 70% of the European population has been vaccinated against COVID-19, following a campaign that, despite the logistical and operational challenge for European countries, can be evaluated positively, what lessons can be drawn for the future? And how can we adapt the strengths of this campaign for routine vaccination programmes, tackling vaccination hesitancy?
In this event organized by the FEAM European Biomedical Policy Forum, a discussion with experts from European authorities and stakeholders will provide an overview on the impact that COVID-19 had on routine vaccination and on lessons learned from this pandemic, in order to improve planning and communication about vaccines across Europe.