According to the latest data from the World Health Organization (WHO), over 2018 people contracted measles in Europe in the first half of 41 alone. people. The disease has contributed to 37 deaths.
«We are aware of the situation. We share the concern expressed by the WHO (…). The monitoring of the data of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control confirms that this disturbing situation is also taking place in the EU, ”EC spokeswoman Anca Paduraru said at a press conference in Brussels on Monday.
The Commission acknowledged that three out of seven countries with the highest measles incidence in Europe belong to the EU. According to WTO data, these are France, Greece and Italy, where 2740, 3193 and 3341 cases were detected, respectively. For comparison, in Poland there were one hundred, and in Denmark only 6. Over 41 thousand. measles in the first half of this year led to 37 deaths in Europe.
The number of cases increases by leaps and bounds from year to year. According to the BBC, in 2017 there were 23 of them, and a year earlier 927. Experts believe that this is due to the decline in the number of vaccinated people.
The Commission is trying to counter the trend of child not vaccinating. «Vaccination is the most powerful and cost-effective measure of public health. There is no reason to give it up »- said the spokeswoman for the institution.
She recalled that reducing the number of people vaccinated in one country increases the risk for other countries as well. «Every unvaccinated person is susceptible to infection and puts others at risk. Vaccination is ultimately an act of solidarity »emphasized Paduraru.
In April this year, the European Commission presented a draft recommendation, inter alia, on the introduction of routine checks on vaccination status and the option of a common electronic vaccination card with cross-border application.
According to the data of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, in the 12-month period from March 1, 2017 to the end of February 2018, nearly 15 were reported under the European surveillance system. measles cases. Other available data show that 86 percent. the sick were not vaccinated.
Parents refuse to vaccinate, among others for fear of adverse reactions to the vaccine (NOP), i.e. health disorders that occur within four weeks after administration of the vaccine. The incidence of NOP depends on the type of vaccine. In the case of vaccines used in Poland, one NOP occurs on average every 10 thousand. vaccinations. Specialists emphasize that severe adverse post-vaccination reactions that require hospitalization are incomparably less frequent than complications of the diseases they protect against.