Europe needs a Life Course Immunisation Strategy

ESWI Board Member Stefania Maggi was invited to contribute as a guest expert in Vaccines Today, where she features the importance of implementing a comprehensive Life Course Immunisation Strategy at the European level. She highlights ESWI’s recent call to action, released together with coalition partners, urging EU institutions and Member States to adopt a coordinated strategy that aligns immunisation policies across all ages, risk groups and healthcare systems.

Immunisation is widely recognised as one of the most effective public health interventions, with vaccination serving as the most effective and foundational pillar of infection prevention at all life stages. However, despite the clear benefits of vaccines in preventing disease, Europe still lacks a coordinated strategy that ensures vaccination coverage at all stages of life.

On 21 January 2026, the European Scientific Working Group on Influenza (ESWI) together with several coalition partners[1] adopted the Call for Action: Life Course Immunisation Strategy – A Seamless Approach to Protection Across All Ages and Risk, urging EU decision‑makers and national authorities to adopt a comprehensive Life Course Immunisation Strategy that extends protection from infancy to older age.