Vaccinations prevent diseases that may be harmful to the child. Many childhood diseases spread very easily, so almost every child will eventually catch them if they are not vaccinated. This is the case for measles, mumps, rubella and pertussis.
A child following the Danish childhood vaccination programme will be well protected against the diseases vaccinated against. If vaccination rates are high enough, outbreaks can be prevented, and weak children with immunodeficiency not benefiting from vaccination will be protected as well.
"In the past couple of years, participation in the childhood vaccination programme has been high, which makes us happy. Vaccination is one of the safest and most effective methods of prevention. But there is still room for improvement, especially in regard to the MMR and HPV vaccines, where we would like to see higher participation rates," says Søren Brostrøm, Director General of the Danish Health Authority (DHA).
High participation in the childhood vaccination programme is achievable if parents feel safe about the vaccines offered, and doctors and other experts are well prepared to explain the benefits and disadvantages of the childhood immunisation programme. The population should be able to trust the authorities' handling of the vaccination programme.
"It is important that parents as well as doctors have confidence in the Danish childhood vaccination programme. Trust requires openness and information. We hope we can contribute to this development with these reports," says Søren Brostrøm.
The Danish Health Authority, Statens Serum Institut and the Danish Medicines Agency have prepared the annual reports together. They provide general information about the childhood vaccination programme, e.g. about why we vaccinate children in Denmark, and more specific information about the past year, e.g. if other than the usual vaccines have been used.
The annual report for 2015 focuses especially on the challenges we have seen with declining HPV vaccination rates.
"The DHA is very concerned with the declining HPV vaccination rates. In 2015, we have been dedicated to ensuring that girls and young women with unresolved symptoms are taken care of, and we have prepared expert recommendations on the organisation of regional examination offers through "One Access". We acknowledge that some parents have felt insecure about the vaccine and have chosen to postpone vaccination of their 12-year-old girls. We must rebuild trust in the HPV vaccine through knowledge and information," says Søren Brostrøm.
The annual reports can be read by anyone with an interest in the Danish childhood vaccination programme – parents, media, decision-makers and other authorities.
Starting today, the DHA will publish annual reports on the childhood vaccination programme every April in connection with the WHO's European Immunization Week.