EU childhood vaccination rates decline in 16 member states

childhood vaccination EU public health immunization rates The Lancet study vaccine hesitancy

A study published in The Lancet Regional Health - Europe, based on WHO and UNICEF data from 1980 to 2024, reveals that childhood vaccination rates in many European Union member states have begun to stagnate or decline. While the EU achieved historically high coverage over the last four decades, a recent downturn has been observed, particularly following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Out of 27 EU member states, 16 have shown declining trends in at least four of the seven routine childhood vaccinations studied. The most notable declines were observed in vaccinations for meningitis B and polio, which saw decreases in 20 countries. Other affected vaccines include Hepatitis B and the DTP combination vaccine.

Specific regional trends vary significantly. Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, the Netherlands, Romania, and Sweden recorded declines across all seven analyzed vaccines. In Germany and Spain, rates fell for five of the seven vaccinations. Conversely, Luxembourg and Portugal maintained high coverage of at least 95 percent for all seven indicators in 2024. In France and Italy, the data showed a mixed pattern, with coverage increasing for some vaccines and decreasing for others.

Entities

European Union · Luigi Russo · The Lancet Regional Health - Europe · UNICEF · Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore · WHO · World Health Organization

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] Declines in Hib and Polio vaccinations were the most significant, with 20 EU countries observing downward trends in each. www.ad-hoc-news.de
[● 20 SOURCES] A study published in ‘The Lancet Regional Health - Europe’ shows declining or stagnating childhood vaccination rates in many EU countries. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.halternerzeitung.de · www.nn.de · www.ad-hoc-news.de · www.recklinghaeuser-zeitung.de · +14 more
[● 14 SOURCES] Increased vaccine skepticism in the EU has already resulted in the resurgence of preventable diseases. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.halternerzeitung.de · www.nn.de · www.recklinghaeuser-zeitung.de · www.stimberg-zeitung.de · +8 more
[● 14 SOURCES] Potential causes for the decline include misinformation and shifts in public trust regarding vaccines. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.halternerzeitung.de · www.nn.de · www.recklinghaeuser-zeitung.de · www.stimberg-zeitung.de · +8 more
[● 22 SOURCES] 16 out of 27 EU member states showed declining trends in at least four of the seven studied vaccination indicators. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.halternerzeitung.de · www.nn.de · www.ad-hoc-news.de · www.recklinghaeuser-zeitung.de · +16 more
[● 25 SOURCES] Researchers analyzed WHO and UNICEF data spanning from 1980 to 2024. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.halternerzeitung.de · www.nn.de · www.ad-hoc-news.de · www.recklinghaeuser-zeitung.de · +19 more
[● 5 SOURCES] Luxembourg and Portugal are among the few countries to maintain vaccination rates of at least 95 percent across all seven indicators. www.ad-hoc-news.de · cretaone.gr · athina984.gr · www.real.gr · www.notiziegeopolitiche.net
[● 18 SOURCES] Germany has seen declining trends in five of the seven routine vaccinations studied. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.halternerzeitung.de · www.ad-hoc-news.de · www.recklinghaeuser-zeitung.de · www.stimberg-zeitung.de · +12 more
[○ 1 SOURCE] The most significant declines were observed in vaccinations for meningitis B and polio. www.notiziegeopolitiche.net
[● 3 SOURCES] Luxembourg and Portugal maintained at least 95% coverage for all seven vaccines in 2024. www.notiziegeopolitiche.net · www.g4media.ro · www.sudouest.fr
[● 20 SOURCES] Childhood vaccination coverage in the EU has declined in 16 countries for at least four out of seven vaccines studied. www.notiziegeopolitiche.net · www.g4media.ro · www.sudouest.fr · cretaone.gr · www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · +14 more
[● 5 SOURCES] Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, the Netherlands, Romania, and Sweden recorded declines in all seven analyzed childhood vaccines. www.notiziegeopolitiche.net · www.g4media.ro · www.sudouest.fr · cretaone.gr · n1info.hr