12 April 2012                 

Prevent. Protect. Immunize:

European Immunization Week 21 to 27 April 2012.

                           Photo courtesy of WHO Regional Office for Europe

Fifty-three European countries are joining this year’s European Immunization Week to promote vaccination of every child. This is the first year that all the member states of the European Region are participating since the programme started in 2005.

This World Health Organization (WHO) initiative is part of World Immunization Week - a global public education campaign highlighting the role vaccines play in preventing potentially fatal diseases and saving lives.  

The focus is on improving uptake of national immunization programmes, measles control and reaching vulnerable populations. This week will also celebrate the ten-year anniversary of Europe’s eradication of polio.

Further details, including guidelines and downloadable artwork, are available from the WHO Regional Office for Europe website.

Links

• Department of Health: Immunisation

• European Immunization Week: What is EIW?

• Health Protection Agency: Vaccination Immunisation

• World Health Organization: World Immunization Week 2012

• World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe: More about European Immunization Week 2012