Strengthening Childhood Vaccination Across Europe Findings and Recommendations from the JARED Project

The JARED project works to reduce chronic respiratory diseases across the EU. One key step is preventing early childhood infections through strong, trusted vaccination systems. A recent Landscape Analysis compared vaccination policies and practices in Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, and Spain – revealing shared challenges and solutions to improve vaccine uptake and confidence. Landscape Analysis was conducted with the aim to find the common and different aspects in vaccination services and vaccination policy in vaccines that prevent early childhood infections; and to understand how vaccination policies are organized and implemented in each country, with a specific focus on vaccines that prevent early childhood infections. Landscape Analysis is used for as a preparatory step for development and carrying out online survey for primary health care specialists on their needs for better communication with patients/parents of children on vaccination.

Key Insights:

• Vaccination saves lives, yet gaps remain in follow-up for under-vaccinated children.
• Healthcare workers need more tools and training to communicate effectively with parents.
• Public trust is undermined by misinformation and inconsistent communication.
• Access to vaccines is uneven – especially in underserved areas and minority communities.

What Countries Can Do:

1. Update and unify vaccination guidelines – include them in all prenatal, pediatric and primary-care protocols.
2. Train healthcare teams – regular workshops in communication and myth-busting for doctors and nurses.
3. Use digital reminders – connect SMS, email, or app alerts to national registries so families never miss a vaccine.
4. Be transparent – publish clear dashboards on vaccine coverage and safety, and host expert Q&A sessions.
5. Bring vaccines closer to people – mobile and pharmacy-based vaccination, local pop-up clinics, and NGO partnerships.
6. Engage communities – collaborate with teachers, religious leaders, and parent groups to spread accurate messages.
7. Ensure inclusivity – translate materials and provide easy-to-understand formats for all families.
8. Monitor and improve continuously – use quick parent and provider surveys to track trust and satisfaction.

By coordinating these actions, EU countries can boost early-childhood vaccination, build public confidence, and protect every child’s right to a healthy start.

As a next step, online survey will be conducted in five participating countries – Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Spain. The target group of this survey is healthcare professionals who provide children vaccination in their daily practices. The purpose of the survey is to better understand your experiences, challenges, and support needs in the field of childhood vaccination, to identify barriers, highlight good practices, and to help the development of effective, evidence-based and patient-centered recommendations.