title: How to optimise the coverage rate of infant and adult immunisations in Europe.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although vaccination has been proved to be a safe, efficacious, and cost-effective intervention, immunisation rates remain suboptimal in many European countries, resulting in poor control of many vaccine-preventable diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Summit of Independent European Vaccination Experts focused on the perception of vaccines and vaccination by the general public and healthcare professionals and discussed ways to improve vaccine uptake in Europe. Despite the substantial impact and importance of the media, healthcare professionals were identified as the main advocates for vaccination and the most important source of information about vaccines for the general public. Healthcare professionals should receive more support for their own education on vaccinology, have rapid access to up-to-date information on vaccines, and have easy access to consultation with experts regarding vaccination-related problems. Vaccine information systems should be set up to facilitate promotion of vaccination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Every opportunity to administer vaccines should be used, and active reminder systems should be set up. A European vaccine awareness week should be established.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Service at the Zentrum für Präventive Pädiatrie, Johannes Gutenberg Universität, Mainz, Germany. hjschmit@uni-mainz.de
authors.forename: Heinz-J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Booy
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aston
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Damme
authors.forename: R Fabian
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Schumacher
authors.forename: Magda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Campins
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rodrigo
authors.forename: Terho
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heikkinen
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weil-Olivier
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Finn
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Olcén
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fedson
authors.forename: Heikki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peltola
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005060:Europe; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007391:International Cooperation; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D024382:Professional Role; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012938:Social Perception; D014611:Vaccination / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*