Vaccination

EAHP Opinion on Vaccination

Hospital pharmacists believe in vaccination. Individuals, patients, visitors or health workers, who are not vaccinated, can spread infections such as measles or the flu to very ill patients in our hospitals. In addition, vaccination reduces the need for admission to the hospital for us all for preventable illnesses. So to protect very ill patients and to help ourselves stay well hospital pharmacists recommend vaccination wherever possible. 

Shortages of preventable medicines – such as vaccines – are also a big concern for hospital pharmacists. The results of the 2018 Medicines Shortages Survey of the EAHP showed that preventative medicines (e.g. vaccines) are the second highest reported area of medicines in shortage with 43% of participants reporting them to be an issue. The shortage problem for vaccines considerably worsened in the last couple years since data collected by the Association in 2014 indicated that only 20% of hospital pharmacists participating in the 2014 Medicines Shortages Survey reported them to be a problem.

EAHP consequently calls on the European institutions to address the growing vaccine shortage problem at European level through an investigation into the causes and through the provision of solutions for preventable shortages.

Read the EAHP Opinion on Vaccination HERE

Coalition for Vaccination - 2021 Influenza Campaign and Statement

The Coalition for Vaccination brings together European associations of healthcare professionals and relevant student associations in the field. It was convened by the European Commission in 2019 with an aim to support delivering accurate information to the public, combating myths around vaccines and vaccination, and exchanging best practices on vaccination. 

During the 2021 Flu Awareness Week, the Coalition for Vaccination has launched a Statement via which European healthcare professionals encourage people, especially those belonging to an at-risk group, to adequately protect themselves from potential serious illness by getting an influenza vaccine also this year. 

Read the Influenza Statement HERE

Learn more about the Coalition for Vaccination HERE

Last update: 19 October 2021