ESMO welcomes today’s adoption of the Council Recommendation on Vaccine-Preventable Cancers by the EU Member States in the EPSCO Council as it recommends further measures to address cancers caused by Human Papilloma Viruses (HPV) and the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV).
In alignment with calls made by ESMO, the adopted text includes strengthened provisions, for consideration of the EU Member States, to address the impact of mis- and disinformation on HPV and HBV vaccination. The Society is also especially supportive of the commitment set out in the Council Recommendation aimed at “…providing vaccination free of charge and/or fully reimbursing related costs for those for whom vaccination is recommended…”.
ESMO would welcome further steps to ensure that the ambitious goal put forward in Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan to “vaccinate at least 90% of the EU target population of girls” is also set for boys. We also consider it important that:
- Support is provided to non-EU low- and middle-income countries with purchasing and producing HPV and HBV vaccines, whilst sharing best practices that have been successfully implemented in the EU;
- The introduction and expansion of HPV and HBV vaccination programs is used for the optimisation of national cancer screening programmes;
- A ring-fenced budget of at least €1 billion is allocated at the EU level to support the Member States with implementing the recommendations at the national level.
In that regard, the Society is supportive of a future review of the Council Recommendation aimed at accommodating these goals.
The Council Recommendation on Vaccine-Preventable Cancers is an EU initiative that sets out policy recommendations for the consideration of the EU Member States aimed at addressing the cancer risks related to HPV and HBV infections. The recommendations included in the EU text are not legally binding on the Member States, though they may shape how HPV and HBV vaccination policies will be developed and implemented at national level in the EU.
Following today’s adoption of the Council text, ESMO calls on the EU institutions and Member States to support and encourage the implementation of the recommendations at the country level, and to this end we stand ready to collaborate with all stakeholders.
For further information, please contact: publicpolicy@esmo.org