Improving paediatric immunisation coverage rates: a position paper of the European Academy of Paediatrics
The European Academy of Paediatrics reaffirms its strong support for comprehensive childhood immunisation programmes. At a time when vaccine hesitancy, policy instability, and funding gaps threaten established achievements, public health policy must remain firmly grounded in scientific evidence, transparency, and ethical responsibility. Based on established evidence and current post-pandemic data, we urgently endorse Europe-wide harmonised surveillance systems for vaccine-preventable diseases, interoperable Immunisation Information Systems (IIS), and a Pan-European standard for digital vaccination records or routine measurement of vaccine confidence and access barriers; and equity-focused catch-up immunisation for under-immunised groups. Investment is also needed in training and tools that equip paediatricians and all other healthcare professionals involved in immunisation to build confidence in vaccination. Coordinated, multilingual public information campaigns should proactively counter misinformation and visibly align political decisions with scientific evidence.
Authors
- Nora Karara (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0215-3900)
- Zoi Dorothea Pana (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5893-1081)
- Stefano del Torso (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1903-7458)
- Ann De Guchtenaere (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2723-1437)
- Roberta Pastore (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4110-774X)
- Luigi Titomanlio (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4909-803X)
- Joe Brierley (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0919-6882)
- Corinne Wyder
- Ulrich Heininger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8901-6778)
- Irén Kántor (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6372-5805)
- Mark Buttigieg
- Oleg Benes
- Brett J. Craig (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1899-335X)
- Zachi Grossman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0656-884X)
- Sophie Jullien (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5587-626X)
- Adamos Hadjipanayis
- Hans Jürgen Dornbusch (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7543-9719)
- Berthold Koletzko
Institutions
- University of Bern (CH)
- HOGENT University of Applied Sciences and Arts (BE)
- University of Nicosia (CY)
- European University Cyprus (CY)
- Medical University of Graz (AT)
- Université Paris Cité (FR)
- Great Ormond Street Hospital (GB)
- Ghent University Hospital (BE)
- University Hospital of Basel (CH)
- Maccabi Healthcare Services (IL)
- LMU Klinikum (DE)
- Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris (FR)
- World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (DK)
- University Children’s Hospital Basel (CH)
- Hôpital Robert-Debré (FR)
- University of Nyíregyháza (HU)
- Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg Theodor Fontane (DE)
- Jósa András Múzeum (HU)
- Office of Adolescent Health (US)
- World Health Organization - Italy (IT)
- University College London (GB)
- Ariel University (IL)
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- The Lancet Regional Health - Europe
- Published
- 2026-09-04
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2026.101851
- Primary Topic
- Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Medizinische Universität Graz