22/04/24 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 22 April, the European Commission, represented by Stella Kyriakides, published a joint statement (https://aeur.eu/f/bvz ) on immunisation, alongside the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe, represented by Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), represented by Regina De Dominicis, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia. This year, European Immunisation Week marks 50 years since the introduction of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI). In 1974, only 5% of the world’s children had been vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. Today, this figure has risen to almost 85% of children worldwide and 94% in the WHO European Region. (LC)