European Immunization Week
Encyclopedia
European Immunization Week (EIW) is an annual regional initiative, coordinated by the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe
(WHO/Europe). EIW activities are carried out by participating countries (Member States) of the WHO European Region and in the past they have included: disseminating informational materials about immunization, organizing immunization campaigns, organizing training sessions for health care workers, arranging workshops or conferences with political decision makers to discuss immunization, and holding press conferences about immunization-related issues, among other activities. EIW takes place in April each year for one week, in conjunction with Vaccination Week in the Americas
. The initiative promotes the message that “immunization of every child is vital in order to prevent diseases and protect life”. The EIW slogan is: Prevent. Protect. Immunize.
As stated by WHO/Europe, the goal of EIW is threefold: to increase vaccination coverage across the European Region by raising public awareness about the benefits of immunization; to support national immunization systems; and to provide a framework for mobilizing public and political support for immunization efforts. Partner organizations involved in EIW include, but are not limited to, UNICEF, the World Bank
, the Measles Initiative
and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
(ECDC).
is the patron of the WHO Regional Office for Europe and, as such, she has participated in activities related to European Immunization Week. At the launch of EIW 2008, she said, “It is the right of every child to grow up healthy, and vaccinated against those diseases that can so easily be controlled. I hope that the countries within the region will act quickly and effectively to ensure that children and adults, especially those in vulnerable and hard-to-reach groups, have access to immunization and basic health services.”
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
(WHO/Europe). EIW activities are carried out by participating countries (Member States) of the WHO European Region and in the past they have included: disseminating informational materials about immunization, organizing immunization campaigns, organizing training sessions for health care workers, arranging workshops or conferences with political decision makers to discuss immunization, and holding press conferences about immunization-related issues, among other activities. EIW takes place in April each year for one week, in conjunction with Vaccination Week in the Americas
Vaccination Week In The Americas
Vaccination Week In The Americas is an annual effort by the member countries of the Pan American Health Organization to vaccinate millions of people in the region. It was first held in 2003, and was prompted by a measles outbreak in Venezuela and Colombia and proposed as an annual event by the...
. The initiative promotes the message that “immunization of every child is vital in order to prevent diseases and protect life”. The EIW slogan is: Prevent. Protect. Immunize.
As stated by WHO/Europe, the goal of EIW is threefold: to increase vaccination coverage across the European Region by raising public awareness about the benefits of immunization; to support national immunization systems; and to provide a framework for mobilizing public and political support for immunization efforts. Partner organizations involved in EIW include, but are not limited to, UNICEF, the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
, the Measles Initiative
Measles Initiative
Measles Initiative , launched in 2001, is a long-term commitment and partnership among leaders in public health and supports the goal of reducing measles deaths globally by 90% by 2010 compared to 2000 estimates.-Impact:...
and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is an independent agency of the European Union aimed at strengthening Europe's defences against infectious diseases. It was established in 2005 and is located in Solna, Sweden....
(ECDC).
European Immunization Week 2011
European Immunization Week 2011 is scheduled for April 23–30. WHO/Europe has selected the following theme for EIW 2011: Shared solutions to common threats. Recent polio outbreaks in the European Region led EIW organizers at WHO/Europe to select this theme. According to the WHO/Europe website, "Recent outbreaks have clearly illustrated that when vaccine-preventable diseases spread, shared borders lead to common threats. One of the best ways to combat these threats is by sharing responsibility for immunization, particularly on a sub-regional level. EIW 2011 will highlight the importance of collaboration and sharing both experiences and solutions for keeping vaccine-preventable diseases under control within the European Region."European Immunization Week 2010
In 2010, the fifth EIW took place April 24 – May 1. The focus for EIW 2010 was meeting the regional goal to eliminate measles and rubella by the end of the year. EIW 2010 coincided with Vaccination Week of the Americas and Vaccine Week in the Eastern Mediterranean. Out of the 52 Member States in the WHO European Region, 47 participated in the initiative.European Immunization Week – 2005-2009
European Immunization Week was initiated in 2005 with six pilot countries. EIW 2009 had the participation of 36 countries in the WHO European Region and featured an animated YouTube video that was viewed more than 10,000 times in a two-week period.EIW Royal Patron
Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary of DenmarkMary, Crown Princess of Denmark
Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat, is the wife of Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark...
is the patron of the WHO Regional Office for Europe and, as such, she has participated in activities related to European Immunization Week. At the launch of EIW 2008, she said, “It is the right of every child to grow up healthy, and vaccinated against those diseases that can so easily be controlled. I hope that the countries within the region will act quickly and effectively to ensure that children and adults, especially those in vulnerable and hard-to-reach groups, have access to immunization and basic health services.”