EUROPEAN IMMUNISATION WEEK – A LONG LIFE FOR ALL!

This week is dedicated to the European Immunisation Week addressing issues related to vaccination, its benefits and the importance to protect people of all ages and backgrounds against vaccine-preventable diseases.

In these last two years, we had evidence on how COVID-19 vaccination has been crucial to save lives, avoid disease and reduce the risk of contagion.

But what about the routine vaccination? Due to the COVID-19 situation, we saw a drop in the global coverage of key vaccines in 2019 and 2020. To keep infectious disease under control and avoid potential outbreaks, it is critical to improve the uptake and coverage of existing vaccines in the age groups that need it the most.

Vaccines work for all and make the impossible possible! Antimicrobial Resistance is a silent pandemic and it kills 33.000 people every year in Europe. In this context, Horizon Europe is a great opportunity for nursing research to progress and to find solutions.

A “louder” enemy in Europe is cancer. In 2020, cancer was diagnosed to 2.7 million people and 1.3 million individuals died from it, and this number should increase by24% by 2035, making it the leading cause of death in the EU. In this context, nurses huge experience (advanced practice) is key in the innovative work they are doing every day. It is key for the ENRF to collaborate with other EU Stakeholders active in cancer research and to build synergies with them to optimise nursing research contribution to the EU policies. Nurses’ views are key in the policy decision making process.

Another big concern when talking about vaccination is the war in Ukraine. Many of the Ukrainian refugees are neither vaccinated against COVID-19 nor against other diseases. Now, the priority is to get Ukrainian refugees vaccinated, especially children and vulnerable groups, to protect their lives and of those around them.

Vaccination continues to be the greatest opportunity that we have to avoid contagion and infectious diseases and to protect our life and of others. Unfortunately, not everyone has understood yet the importance of vaccines. As such, the role of nurses and of nurse researchers in spreading the right information and in showing the real benefits of vaccines is essential.

In conclusion, nursing research play a vital role in rolling out high-level outcomes in vaccination which can really benefit the entire population.

Stay healthy and get vaccinated!