Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The Council of Member States of the European Union adopted a recommendation aimed at combating vaccine-preventable cancers in the European Union by promoting vaccinations against human papillomaviruses (HPV), which lead to cervical cancer in women, and hepatitis B virus (HBV).
Through a statement by the European Union on Friday, the Belgian rotating presidency of the IGAD, through Frank Vandenbroucke, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Social Affairs, said, “A high proportion of cancer cases are preventable. In addition to addressing risk factors such as alcohol, tobacco and nutrition, vaccination can play a major role.” In this regard, the recommendation adopted today will help Member States enhance cancer prevention by increasing uptake and coverage of key vaccines, increasing awareness among target groups, and combating misinformation and disinformation.
According to a report published by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), about 40% of cancer cases are the result of environmental factors. These factors include infection with oncolytic viruses such as human papillomavirus and hepatitis C virus.
Vaccination against HPV and hepatitis B virus can significantly reduce a person's risk of developing cancer associated with these viruses. However, uptake and monitoring of HPV and hepatitis B vaccines varies between Member States, and is affected by issues such as data protection concerns and parental consent, as well as misinformation and disinformation relating to infection and vaccination.
The recommendation adopted today aims to support Member States in increasing vaccination rates and improving monitoring of vaccination coverage. In particular, it encourages Member States to:
Increase efforts towards fully vaccinating at least 90% of girls against HPV at EU level by 2030, in line with the target set in the Beating Cancer in Europe plan
It aims to significantly increase boys' vaccination against HPV during the same period, in order to reduce the risk of transmission
Strengthen efforts to achieve the WHO 2030 targets for Europe of 95% hepatitis B vaccination coverage for children and newborns and a 95% screening rate for pregnant women, and improve monitoring of progress towards these targets
In order to achieve these objectives, the Recommendation encourages Member States to:
Ensure that vaccination against HPV and hepatitis B virus is free and easily accessible
Improving communication about vaccination between parents and young people, and combating misinformation and disinformation
Integrate immunization against vaccine-preventable cancers into its national cancer control plans
On January 31, 2024, the Committee published a proposal for a Council Recommendation on vaccine-preventable cancers. This recommendation forms part of Europe's Conquer Cancer Plan, the European Union's approach to cancer prevention, treatment and care, and was announced in February 2021 as a cornerstone of the European Health Union.