The Council of the European Union adopted a recommendation on vaccine-preventable cancers on Friday, 21 June.
The recommendation, part of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, encourages Member States to increase access and uptake of vaccines addressing cancer risks associated with Hepatitis B (HBV) and Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. These infections may cause different forms of cancer, including liver, genital or anal cancers and head-and-neck cancers.
EDF provided input to the European Commission’s call for evidence on this recommendation.
Why is the recommendation important?
Roughly 40% of cancer cases in the EU are preventable, and vaccination is among the various tools that can help prevent it. HPV and Hepatitis B vaccination can significantly reduce the risk of a person developing associated cancers. However, access and uptake of these vaccines varies across Member States, with persons with disabilities facing pervasive structural barriers.
Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan established vaccination targets, including vaccinating at least 90% of girls for HPV and significantly increasing the rate of HPV vaccination for boys. For Hepatitis B, the Commission committed to ensuring improved access.
What does the recommendation do for persons with disabilities?
The recommendation recognises access issues to vaccination and recognises persons with disabilities as a disadvantaged group. As such, it recommends that Member States address structural barriers for persons with disabilities.
Specifically, the recommendation calls on Member States to:
- Implement or enhance vaccination programs, including by offering vaccines at no cost or fully reimbursing associated expenses.
- Take full advantage of EU funding opportunities to roll out vaccination programmes that reduce health inequalities, including through communication campaigns.
- Address structural barriers for HPV vaccination of adolescent and preadolescent girls and boys with disabilities.
- Enhance targeted communication and outreach efforts by working with stakeholder associations.
- Adapt Hepatitis B vaccination services to various target groups, recognising the intersection of disadvantaged situations
Member States should create accessible vaccination campaigns, including specific outreach to girls and boys with disabilities in partnership with organisations of persons with disabilities, and offer accessible or adapted vaccination services at no cost or fully reimbursed, including for disability-related costs.
Missed opportunities
While the recommendation marks an important step towards health equity for persons with disabilities, the Council missed several opportunities to ensure equal access and uptake of HPV and Hepatitis B vaccines.
EDF continues to urge the EU and Member States to:
- Ensure collection and availability of data disaggregated by disability through the monitoring of vaccination coverage rates, vaccine registries or equivalents.
- Promote and support the training of healthcare professionals and people working with persons with disabilities, including people in institutions, to ensure efficient roll-out of vaccination programmes and respect for the rights of persons with disabilities.
- Ensure policies and guidelines on vaccination guarantee the free and informed consent of all persons, for example, young adults under substituted decision-making regimes such as guardianship, should have access to vaccination but not be forced to accept vaccination, or vaccinated against their will through the consent of their legal guardian.
- Involve representative organisations of persons with disabilities in the development, implementation and monitoring of vaccination campaigns.
More information
Contact
Markaya Henderson, Health Policy and Project officer.