This online webinar will provide an overview of WHO/Europe’s guidance on identifying and addressing immunization inequities and create a platform for Member States to learn from one another. Countries that have applied the WHO/Europe approach at the national and/or subnational level and those that have implemented other equity-oriented strategies within primary health care and among specific population groups will share their experiences.
Representatives of all 53 Member States of the WHO European Region are invited, including national immunization programme managers, national focal points for vaccine-preventable disease surveillance and monitoring of immunization programme performance, chairs and members of immunization-related expert committees, and representatives of primary health care and public health authorities. The workshop is also targeting representatives of WHO headquarters and country offices, the European Technical Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization, the European Commission and its agencies, and the United Nations Children’s Fund and other partner agencies engaged in supporting immunization programme implementation in the European Region.
Background
Immunization coverage in the WHO European Region remains high overall, yet inequities persist within and between countries. Certain population groups continue to experience barriers to timely and complete vaccination, including those affected by geographic isolation, socioeconomic challenges, limited access to primary health care, fragmented service delivery, or limited confidence in vaccination. These inequities undermine progress towards national and regional immunization goals, leaving communities vulnerable to vaccine preventable diseases and reducing the overall resilience of immunization systems.
To support countries in addressing these challenges, WHO/Europe has developed a structured approach and practical tools to help national programmes diagnose immunization inequities, understand their underlying causes, and identify tailored interventions that are feasible within their contexts. Several Member States across the Region have already applied this guidance, generating valuable insights into both common and context-specific drivers of under-vaccination. Their experiences offer important lessons for countries seeking to strengthen equity-focused planning and monitoring.