Health Committee MEPs warn against dropping vaccination rates | WPN World People News

● MEPs concerned about health impact of vaccine hesitancy

● Calls for greater transparency in the production of vaccines

● Calls for states to jointly buy doses in order to push down price

Waning public confidence in vaccination is a major challenge and has already brought about health consequences, Health Committee MEPs said on Tuesday.

MEPs note with concern that epidemiological data show significant gaps in vaccines being accepted and insufficient coverage rates to ensure the public is adequately protected from vaccine-preventable diseases, in a resolution adopted on Tuesday.

The growing and widespread vaccine hesitancy is worrying and has already had consequences, such as avoidable measles outbreaks in a number of countries, they say.

MEPs point out that vaccines are rigorously tested through multiple stages of trials and regularly reassessed. They also welcome the forthcoming launch of a Joint Action, co-funded by the EU Health Programme, aimed at increasing the number of people who have been vaccinated. The European Commission should reinforce its support for national vaccination efforts, they say.

Restore confidence through more transparency

MEPs stress that increased transparency in evaluating vaccines and their adjuvants, in the funding of independent research programmes and the possible side-effects of vaccines would contribute to restoring confidence in vaccination.

They point out that researchers must declare any conflict of interest. Those subject to a conflict of interest should be excluded from evaluation panels. The confidentiality of deliberations of the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) evaluation panel should also be lifted, and scientific and clinical data be made public.

They also propose opening a factual and science-based dialogue with civil society in order to combat unreliable, misleading and unscientific information on vaccination.

Joint procurement of vaccines

MEPs say it is unjustifiable that the cost of a full vaccines package for one child is 68 times more expensive in 2014 compared to 2001. They support an existing agreement allowing vaccines to be jointly procured, pooling the purchasing power of member states.

Source: European Parliament