European Immunization Week 2015: 10th anniversary.

The 10th anniversary of the European Immunization Week (EIW) is celebrated between 20 and 25 April 2015 all over Europe [1]. This year, EIW focuses on the need for renewed commitment to immunisation at political, professional and personal levels. Various activities at national level are organised this week under the banner of EIW and they vary greatly from country to country. In some areas supplementary immunisation activities against diseases such as polio, rubella and measles are conducted, while in others, awareness-raising campaigns are being launched, and media engagement sought. EIW is also used in some areas as background for publication of a strategic document. Every year, EIW promotes the core message that the immunisation of every child is vital to prevent diseases and protect life. This initiative is led and coordinated by the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe) and implemented by the countries of the European Region. For one week in April, countries across the Region unite under the EIW slogan – Prevent. Protect. Immunize. – and carry out activities to inform and engage key target audiences and to address challenges regarding immunisation. These activities include training sessions for healthcare workers, dissemination of informational materials, workshops, press conferences and round table discussions with political decision makers. More information on the activities around the EIW is available on the campaign site [1]. On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the EIW, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is releasing a new set of data, tools, blogs and updates to support public health authorities in their work against vaccine preventable diseases. ECDC has launched surveillance data on measles and rubella from the European Union / European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries through the Surveillance Atlas of Infectious Diseases [2]. The interactive tool shows, amongst other things: confirmed cases for the past 12 months, notification rates, age and sex distribution, vaccination status, complication rates.