WRITTEN QUESTION P-0782/03

by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Commission

(7 March 2003)

Subject: EU involvement in world immunisation initiatives

The Commission's programme of Community action in the field of public health, adopted in September 2002, included tackling health determinants as one of its key areas. Immunisation is the most powerful of all preventive health measures, especially for children, and is central to human rights and poverty alleviation. The recent report by the World Health Organisation, Unicef and the World Bank, State of the World's Vaccines and Immunisation (2002), highlights immense strides. It also points out that although vaccines are the least expensive way of controlling diseases, they are not reaching the populations that need them most in underdeveloped regions in the world.

Considering the EU's commitment to working closely with the major international bodies in the health field, such as the World Health Organisation, what steps are being taken at EU level to invest in immunisation and become involved in new initiatives launched by the World Health Organisation and other NGOs who are responding to mounting international concern and coverage of immunisation and vaccination programmes?

Will the Commission consider establishing a health forum, bringing together the health community including NGOs, health professionals and health authorities, to discuss such issues of public health and develop a comprehensive and coordinated agenda of action?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(9 April 2003)

The Commission is strongly committed to work closely with the major international bodies to support the fight against communicable diseases, in Europe as well as in developing countries.

In Europe the main responsibility for vaccination policy, like health services and medical care in general, lies with Member States and each has developed its policy according to national needs.

In this context the Commission supports the Member States in their work to control the vaccine-preventable diseases, taking into account their own specific vaccination strategy, in different ways:

- Working closely with the Member States through the Community Network strengthening the surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases, under Member States Decision No 2119/98/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 1998 setting up a network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases in the Community(1);

- Funding projects under the Public Health Programme to support specific vaccine-preventable disease surveillance activities and policy oriented projects with Member States and Candidate Countries. Partnership with other countries and international organisations, such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), are possible.

The Commission's activities in this field in developing countries are embedded in its ongoing support for health and strengthening of health, essential to increase and sustain the coverage and effectiveness of immunisation. This support is progressively provided through sector wide approaches and budget support. Immunisation coverage is included amongst the indicators selected to monitor sector performance and improved health outcomes. In some countries, immunisation against vaccine-preventable diseases merits additional support. For instance, the Community has supported specific projects in countries and regions where polio is still endemic. The Commission specifically supports polio eradication efforts in India and Nigeria, where over 90 % of confirmed polio cases occurred during 2002, through projects with a total value of EUR 37,5 million. The Commission also supports regional programmes in West Africa

through Unicef (e.g. Appui au renforcement de l'Indépendance vaccinale ARIVA West-Africa), aimed at strengthening capacities towards higher national and regional independence in vaccination programmes. Support for immunisation activities in complex emergencies is also provided through the European Humanitarian Aid Office. Furthermore, the Commission is contributing through regional funds (African malaria Vaccine Network), the special budget line (AIDS vaccine preparedness programmes) and the 5th Research Framework, to the development of new and more effective vaccines against the main poverty-related diseases.

(1) OJ L 268, 3.10.1998.