Vaccination is the primary tool for preventing disease and one of the most cost-effective public health measures available.
Immunisation through vaccination is the best defence we have against serious, preventable, and sometimes deadly, contagious diseases.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccination prevents an estimated 3.5 million to 5 million deaths worldwide each year and reduces disease-specific treatment costs.
Thanks to widespread vaccination:
- Smallpox has been eradicated.
- Europe has been made polio-free.
- many other diseases have been almost eliminated.
Vaccines used in the EU are safe and effective
There are very strict rules within the European Union for approving any vaccines put on the market.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) carries out a very comprehensive evaluation of new vaccines, once these have been designed and tested in clinical trials by the manufacturing companies. Following a positive assessment, the European Commission can then issue a marketing authorisation.
Once on the market, EMA continues to evaluate the safety of the vaccines and performs post-authorisation surveillance. All these steps are devised to ensure maximum safety, with the ultimate concern being the health and well-being of the population.
All components of vaccines marketed in the European Union undergo intense scrutiny.
Current challenges
Today, EU and neighbouring countries continue to face outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases due to insufficient vaccination coverage rates.
A life course approach to vaccination is essential to maximise the full potential of immunisation across all ages. This means staying up to date on recommended vaccines, in accordance with national schedules and guidelines.
The potential barriers to vaccination are complex and include a combination of factors, such as limited access to immunisation services, disrupted supply, or misinformation about vaccines.
Challenges to public confidence in vaccination, geographical differences in accessibility and uptake, and the rise of false and misleading information about vaccination are a cause for concern and a major challenge for public health experts.
Ensuring equitable access to vaccines for all EU citizens, fighting misinformation and disinformation, and improving vaccine confidence are objectives shared by the European Commission and EU Member States.
Action at EU level
Vaccination policy is a competence of national authorities, but the European Commission supports EU countries in coordinating their policies and programmes.
Vaccine preventable cancers
In 2024, a Council Recommendation on vaccine-preventable cancers was adopted to support EU countries in boosting the uptake of vaccination against Human Papillomaviruses (HPV) and Hepatitis B virus (HBV).
Recommendations to EU countries include facilitating access to vaccination, targeted communication on the importance of HPV and HBV vaccination in a cancer prevention perspective and better monitoring of vaccination coverage rates to inform public health action.
One of the goals of Europe's Beating Cancer Plan is to eliminate cervical cancer by vaccinating young people against the Human papillomavirus (HPV) that causes it and is also linked to head and neck, and anal cancers.
Specifically, the Plan calls for vaccinating at least 90% of the EU's target population of girls and for significantly increasing the vaccination rate among boys.
Funded by the EU4Health programme, the Joint Action SHIELD (Strategies for Health Interventions to Eliminate Infection related Cancers) supports Member States in increasing HPV and HBV vaccination coverage, enhancing monitoring systems, and developing comprehensive biomedical prevention programmes.
Additionally, the Commission supported the development of a Communication Model for Building Awareness and Countering Misinformation and Disinformation on HPV and HBV Vaccination, which provides practical guidance to Member States for evidence-based public communication. Through the Joint Action SHIELD, this model will be translated into concrete awareness-raising campaigns promoting HPV and HBV vaccination as effective cancer prevention tools.
Respiratory infections
Vaccination against respiratory infections, such as seasonal influenza, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and pneumococcal disease, helps to prevent cardiovascular complications in high-risk groups. Vaccinating people aged 65 and over, as well as those with cardiovascular diseases, reduces the risk of heart attacks, stroke and other acute events.
The Safe Hearts Plan, which was unveiled by the European Commission in December 2025, includes a proposal for a Council recommendation on vaccination against respiratory infections as a preventive measure for cardiovascular diseases.
Council Recommendation on strengthened cooperation against vaccine-preventable diseases
In December 2018, EU Health Ministers adopted a Council Recommendation on strengthened cooperation against vaccine-preventable diseases.
This policy initiative called for actions such as coordinating vaccine procurement, supporting research and innovation, and addressing vaccine hesitancy. The overall objective was to increase the uptake of vaccination in the EU from a life-course perspective.
Through the Joint Action on Vaccination (2018-2022), co-funded by the third EU Health Programme (€3.55 million), the European Commission reinforced its support to national vaccination efforts to increase coverage. Launched in 2018, the joint action addressed vaccine hesitancy and sought to increase vaccination coverage in the EU.
- Council Recommendation
- Commission Communication
- Q&A
- Video (subtitles available in EN, FR, DE, IT, RO)
- Factsheet (available in FR, DE, IT, PT, RO)
- Factsheet - Implementation of EU actions to boost vaccine confidence
In addition, the Commission supports EU countries in maintaining or increasing rates of vaccination by:
- promoting seasonal flu vaccination to at risk groups.
- encouraging EU countries to ensure that all children are immunised according to national schedules
- raising awareness of the importance of immunisation and supporting EU countries activities
Between 2022 and 2025, the European Commission ran a #UnitedInProtection communication campaign to raise awareness of the benefits of a lifelong approach to vaccination.
Safe COVID-19 vaccines for Europeans
- On 17 June 2020, the European Commission presented an EU strategy for COVID-19 vaccines to accelerate the development, manufacturing and deployment of vaccines against COVID-19. Safe and effective vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, are our best bet to gradually end the pandemic.
- On 15 October 2020, the Commission published a Communication on preparedness for COVID-19 strategies and vaccine deployment presenting the key elements Member States should consider in their national COVID-19 vaccination plans, in particular the definition of priority groups for vaccination.
- Find out more about the Commission's actions to support the deployment of safe and effective vaccines globally: Safe COVID-19 vaccines for Europeans
Coalition for Vaccination
A Coalition for Vaccination was established in spring 2019 and brings together European health professionals' and students' associations to advocate for vaccination in their work with citizens and peers. Members of the Coalition for Vaccination commit to delivering accurate information to the public, to fighting myths around vaccination and vaccines, and to exchanging best practices.
