ECO activities for European Immunisation Week 2024

Few people today are aware that many cancers can be prevented by vaccination and that vaccination rates vary greatly among different European countries. This is due to inadequate information and insufficient vaccine supply as part of national healthcare coverage.

- The HPV vaccine targets the human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted infection that causes 4,5% of all cancers in women and men, including cervical, anal, penile, vaginal, vulval, and head & neck cancers.

- The Hep B vaccine neutralises hepatitis B, a virus that can cause liver cancer,  responsible for approximately 55% of all liver cancer deaths.

It is obvious: tens of thousands of lives could be saved each year in Europe by implementing effective immunisation measures. Time and again, vaccination has been proven to be a safe and effective way to prevent infections and reduce the risk of developing HPV and HBV-related cancers, even later in life and across all genders.

It is of vital importance that European countries implement HPV and Hepatitis B vaccination programmes that are gender-neutral and inclusive across the population. Only then can we protecting ourselves and our loved ones from these deadly cancers.

On European Immunisation Week, let’s spread the word and make a stand. Together, let's promote inclusive vaccination measures, effective and comprehensive screening practices, and awareness across all genders and ages.

See above a video from our president, Prof. Csaba Dégi, talking about the importance of vaccination to prevent cancer.

Learn more here about our first PROTECT-EUROPE Masterclass on understanding HPV epidemiology and reaching equity through gender-neutral vaccination.

Browse our European Cancer Pulse digital tool for the latest data on HPV vaccination coverage in Europe.

And discover here our new report from the ECO HPV Advocacy Symposium held on 25 January.