Vaccines Europe welcomes the Council Conclusions on the improvement of cardiovascular health in the EU  

Vaccines Europe welcomes the Council Conclusions on the improvement of cardiovascular health (CVH) in the EU adopted today, 3^rd December 2024.  

60 million Europeans live with a cardiovascular disease (CVD), which increases their risk of developing severe complications from respiratory viruses such as seasonal influenza, COVID-19 and RSV. For instance, people with CVD who are diagnosed with influenza have 6 times higher risk of experiencing a heart attack. However, evidence suggests that vaccination against these respiratory viruses can reduce the risk of complications associated with CVD, especially important for adults. 

Vaccine innovation is key to address the healthcare challenges posed by respiratory infections for all Europeans. In the Vaccines Europe pipeline review 2024, 64 vaccine candidates target respiratory-transmitted infections, anticipating the growing needs to protect people against these pathogens. 

Recent evidence demonstrated that adult immunisation returns 19 times its initial investment when the full spectrum of economic and societal benefits is valued. Adult immunisation programmes are critical for safeguarding people’s health and contributing to the resilience of the society and economy, and need to be sustainably funded and implemented across EU Member States.  

The recognition of the protective role of vaccination by the Council Conclusions is a positive first step towards ensuring people with CVD live healthier lives but more work is needed. This includes harmonising the recommendations for vaccination against respiratory viruses and supporting the education of healthcare professionals on the value of vaccination to boost vaccination uptake. 

Now is the time to champion prevention, including immunisation, and facilitate a paradigm shift towards prevention-based healthcare models to help protect people’s health, and ensure resilient healthcare systems, society and economy.