Measures taken to prevent illness are known as
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Vaccination to prevent disease is commonplace in Europe today. Certain diseases have already been eradicated by rigorous vaccination campaigns, while others are hoped to be eliminated soon, such as measles and congenital rubella. Find out more about prevention and control measures for vaccine-preventable diseases; guidance, action plans, communication plans and campaigns, vaccination coverage, childhood vaccination etc Information on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, including risk groups, vaccines, contact tracing and non-pharmaceutical interventions. Congenital rubella syndrome is prevented by ensuring that everyone in the EU is vaccinated against rubella. In particular, women who are planning to get pregnant should be vaccinated as this protects the mother as well as the foetus. An effective vaccine is available against diphtheria and mass immunisation has led to the reduction in the number of cases in Europe. Two prophylactic HPV vaccines have been licensed in Europe, a bivalent and a quadrivalent vaccine: both have a good safety profile and protect against the high-risk HPV types 16 and 18. Immunisation is the only public health intervention capable of preventing the majority serious Hib disease. Guidance on prevention and control measures for hepatitis B Different kinds of vaccines (inactivated, attenuated and chimeric) are available and used in several Asiatic countries. In Europe an inactivated vaccine is currently available. Another way of prevention is avoiding mosquito bites. Immunisation is the only effective preventive measure against acquiring measles. Vaccines are available against serogroups A, B, C, Y and W. Most instances of the disease in Europe are caused by serogroups B and C. Immunisation is the only effective method of prevention. Mumps vaccine is given in the form of the combined trivalent measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine in all European countries with a first dose at or before 18 months of age. The timing of the second dose varies across countries. The most important way to prevent pertussis is through complete immunisation. Childhood immunisation against S. pneumoniae is the most effective public health measure for preventing IPD both among vaccine recipients (direct effect), and among unimmunised populations (indirect ‘herd’ effect). Immunisation is the cornerstone of polio eradication. Two types of vaccine are available: an inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) and a live attenuated OPV. Two rotavirus vaccines were authorised for prevention of rotavirus gastroenteritis in 2006. Authorised vaccines provide a high level of protection against severe disease in need of medical attention. Evidence suggests that rotavirus vaccination should be initiated before 12 weeks of age and can be administered together with other infant vaccines. Rubella and measles are targeted for elimination in the WHO European region. Immunisation is the only effective prevention of tetanus. Tetanus toxoid is an effective, safe, stable and inexpensive vaccine that can be given to all ages, to pregnant women and to immunocompromised individuals. Although the epidemiological picture within the EU/EEA is generally favourable, there is no room for complacency. A vaccine is available which protects against the varicella virus; however policies on vaccine use vary across the EU. Varicella vaccination for all children is only recommended at national level in five countries (for the list of those countries see the ECDC vaccine scheduler). In most countries vaccination is available for adolescents without history of varicella and for the people who have higher risk of coming into contact with the varicella virus, like healthcare workers. |