Brussels, Dec 8, 2008 : Mandatory vaccination will remain the option of individual member states, Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Public Health, has stated. Kyriakides stated that compulsory vaccination should not be discussed at a press conference held after a meeting of European Union’s health ministers.
She stated that vaccines are needed urgently to close the immunization gap.”We must get as many EU citizens as possible fully vaccinated, protect more people from the worst effects of the virus and prevent the spread of new variants.Six member states still have a vaccination rate of less than 55 percent.
Kyriakides didn’t give a clear answer when asked if the health ministers had discussed compulsory vaccines.
Kyriakides stated, “We have made it clear since the beginning of our work with the European vaccine strategy that vaccinations in general and decisions on mandatory vaccinations are matters for the member countries.”
“Currently, 77% of European adults and 66% of the European population are vaccinated.This means that only one third of Europe’s population is vaccinated.Even though vaccination is the best tool to combat this pandemic, it is not the only one.
Kyriakides said that it was important and appropriate to start a discussion about mandatory vaccination.However, he added that “I don’t believe that this should distract us from the need for vaccinating as quickly as possible, and the need to have nonpharmaceutical measures in effect in order to combat this virus.”
“Even a single member state with a low vaccine rate can have an impact upon the EU’s health situation.” She stressed that vaccination is a public health necessity.
Ministers also discussed the European Beating Cancer Plan, the Pharmaceutical Strategy, and the next steps in global health and pandemic preparedness.
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