EAP Webinar April 2025 | Resurgence of Measles and Pertussis | The Crucial Role of Vaccination in Prevention.

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Webinar 1: Focus on Vaccination

This webinar addresses the concerning rise in measles and pertussis cases worldwide, with a particular focus on Europe, and emphasizes the critical role of vaccination in preventing these serious diseases.

 

For measles, a significant resurgence has been observed over the past two years. This increase is closely linked to declining routine childhood vaccination coverage, which in many countries has fallen well below the 95% threshold required for herd immunity. The disruption of healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with rising vaccine hesitancy, has further exacerbated the issue. As a highly contagious disease, measles poses a serious threat to unvaccinated individuals—particularly young children and immunocompromised populations.

For pertussis, data from January 2023 to March 2024 show a tenfold increase in reported cases compared to the previous two years. Persistent challenges in achieving high immunization rates in pregnant women, restoring childhood vaccination coverage and booster vaccination in adults remain in many countries.Contributing factors include natural cyclical peaks, waning immunity, and reduced exposure during the pandemic due to limited circulation. Persistent challenges in achieving high maternal immunization rates and restoring childhood vaccination coverage remain in many countries. Given the heightened vulnerability of infants under six months of age, timely childhood vaccination, improved maternal vaccine uptake, and increased awareness among healthcare providers and the public.

The current situation for both diseases highlights the urgent need to strengthen immunization programs, rebuild vaccine confidence, and improve preparedness for future outbreaks. Reinforced public health campaigns, active engagement of healthcare professionals, and strong policy support are all critical to preventing further spread and protecting at-risk groups.

This webinar addresses the concerning rise in measles and pertussis cases worldwide, with a particular focus on Europe, and emphasizes the critical role of vaccination in preventing these serious diseases.

 

About the Presenters

Hans Jürgen Dornbusch

Assoc. Prof

Associate Professor of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Graz. Specialist in pediatric infectious diseases and vaccinology. Chair of the EAP Vaccination Strategic Advisory Group.

Zoi Dorothea Pana

Prof.

Professor of Paediatrics and Epidemiology, University of Nicosia. Expert in infection control and antimicrobial stewardship. Active member of EU-funded research and scientific committees in pediatric infectious diseases.

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Core-MD Project

Coordinating Research and Evidence for Medical Devices (CORE-MD)

New ways to test high-risk medical devices.

 

Manufacturers of medical devices need to test their products before being allowed to market them. Specifically, they require clinical data showing their medical device is safe and efficient. In this context, the EU-funded CORE-MD project will translate expert scientific and clinical evidence on study designs for evaluating high-risk medical devices into advice for EU regulators. The project will propose how new trial designs can contribute and suggest ways to aggregate real-world data from medical device registries.


It will also conduct multidisciplinary workshops to propose a hierarchy of levels of evidence from clinical investigations, as well as educational and training objectives for all stakeholders, to build expertise in regulatory science in Europe. CORE–MD will translate expert scientific and clinical evidence on study designs for evaluating high-risk medical devices into advice for EU regulators, to achieve an appropriate balance between innovation, safety, and effectiveness. A unique collaboration between medical associations, regulatory agencies, notified bodies, academic institutions, patients’ groups, and health technology assessment agencies, will systematically review methodologies for the clinical investigation of high-risk medical devices, recommend how new trial designs can contribute, and advise on methods for aggregating real-world data from medical device registries with experience from clinical practice The consortium is led by the European Society of Cardiology and the European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, and involves all 33 specialist medical associations that are members of the Biomedical Alliance in Europe.

EAP Representative:

  • BERTHOLD KOLETZKO
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