On Wednesday 31 January, the European Commission presented a recommendation aimed at supporting Member States’ efforts to prevent cancer through vaccination.
The recommendation (https://aeur.eu/f/anm ) aims to encourage the use of two vaccines to prevent viral infections that can lead to cancer, namely human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections.
The recommendation is part of the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, a pillar of the European Health Union.
To eliminate cervical cancer and other cancers caused by HPV, such as certain cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract and other anogenital cancers, the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan has set Member States the target of achieving a 90% vaccination rate among girls and a significant increase in the vaccination of boys by 2030. The Beating Cancer Plan also aims to guarantee access to HBV vaccination and to stimulate the use of this vaccine, particularly with a view to preventing liver cancer. These vaccines are essential for protecting public health and creating resilient healthcare systems.
However, there is still a long way to go to achieve the targets set. Many Member States have an HPV vaccination rate of well below 50% for girls, and limited data on the vaccination of boys and young adults. Similarly, there is a glaring lack of data on HBV vaccination rates.
In particular, Member States are invited to offer free and/or fully reimbursed vaccination, to ensure that vaccination is easily accessible and to include vaccination against vaccine-preventable cancers in national cancer control plans.
The Commission also suggests that they define a concrete target for vaccinating boys against HPV and, with specific regard to HBV, strengthen national efforts to achieve the WHO targets for 2030: 95% vaccination coverage (3rd dose) of children against HBV, HBsAg (hepatitis B virus surface antigen) screening in 95% of pregnant women and for 95% of newborns, timely inoculation (within 24 hours of birth) of the birth vaccination dose against HBV.
The Commission also organised a conference on the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, with the participation of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the Commission, and the Commissioner for Health, Stella Kyriakides.
“The number of cancer diagnoses and deaths is expected to rise across the continent. This situation is simply unacceptable”, warned Ms von der Leyen.
However, she welcomed the results of the Beating Cancer Plan (€4 billion from the EU4Health programme and other instruments): “We have strengthened prevention and early detection. We have updated our screening guidelines. We have improved diagnosis and treatment. We have promoted consistently high standards of care through a planned EU network of Comprehensive Cancer Centres in each Member State. And to ensure a high quality of life for those affected by cancer, we have set up a European Network of Youth Cancer Survivors.”
Smoking. On Wednesday, the Commission was due to adopt a recommendation to the EU Council on a smoke-free environment, but the subject was withdrawn from the agenda. This delay has been criticised by a number of public health organisations. In addition, the European Ombudsman recently found a case of maladministration concerning the Commission’s meetings with tobacco lobbyists (see EUROPE 13319/42). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)