ECDC Director, Dr Andrea Ammon said: "As healthcare systems strive to improve quality, safety and sustainability, digital solutions are proving to have the potential to strengthen disease prevention through immunisation". Ammon continued, "With this report ECDC is able for the first time to present a clear picture of the status and functionalities of immunisation information systems across EU/EEA countries".
Many of the digital systems currently in operation or being set up include the possibility to record whole-of-life vaccination data, and some countries can provide vaccine recipients the possibility to print their personal immunisation history. This technology gives means that individuals can stay up to date with their immunisations throughout their lives and removes uncertainties over vaccination status.
"Digital vaccination records may allow an individual to keep up to date with their vaccination status", explained ECDC Director Andrea Ammon. Ammon continued, "Access to this information could be critical since many adults may neither have had access to currently available vaccines as a child, nor developed immunity through natural infection. This would be of benefit to both the individual and public health and can empower citizens to become better aware of their vaccination status and needs".
The importance of digital immunisation records is recognised by the 2014 EU Council Conclusions on vaccination as an effective tool in public health and further endorsed by the World Health Organisation's European Vaccines Action Plan (EVAP). ECDC is promoting the results of its survey report in support of the European Immunisation Week 24-30 April 2017, which has the objective to increase awareness of the importance of immunisation throughout life.