Immunisation is the cornerstone of polio eradication. Two types of vaccine are available: an inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) and a live attenuated OPV.
A vaccine is available which protects against the varicella virus; however policies on vaccine use vary across the EU. Varicella vaccination for all children is only recommended at national level in five countries (for the list of those countries see the ECDC vaccine scheduler). In most countries vaccination is available for adolescents without history of varicella and for the people who have higher risk of coming into contact with the varicella virus, like healthcare workers.
The overall objective is to support EU Member States in updating their polio preparedness planning. The specific aims of the case study were to: critically review implemented actions and identify gaps in order to propose approaches for strengthening the national polio plans; identify health system elements that are important in polio preparedness planning; and provide examples of collaborative efforts between these sectors in planning measures for outbreak response to polio as a cross-border health threat.
ECDC’s annual epidemiological reports provide a wealth of epidemiological data to support decision-making at the national level. They are mainly intended for public health professionals and policymakers involved in disease prevention and control programmes.