Vaccination – a key tool for beating cancer

With the number of cancers and cancer-related deaths across the EU rising at an alarming rate, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) calls for due attention to be paid to the need for cancer prevention measures, as about 40% of cancer cases are deemed preventable.

At its plenary session in May, the EESC adopted an opinion welcoming the European Commission's proposal for a Council Recommendation on vaccine-preventable cancers as a follow-up initiative to the EU's Beating Cancer Plan (the Cancer Plan).

The opinion focuses on the vaccination against human papillomaviruses (HPV) and the hepatitis B virus (HBV), as vaccination could prevent several kinds of cancer caused by these viruses.

The EESC emphasised the need for proper information, education and communication encouraging target groups to be vaccinated, insisting that cancer prevention measures should target both sexes equally. It highlighted the important role of general practitioners, family doctors, school physicians and civil society organisations in this endeavour.

Milena Angelova, rapporteur for the opinion on Vaccine‑preventable cancers, said: "We must fight stigma and false beliefs around vaccines. For example, there is the erroneous belief that vaccinations are only for young girls. However, that is not the case. In order to eradicate these viruses (HPV, HBV), we also have to engage with boys and their parents as well".

It is extremely important "to reverse the trend of scepticism", added co-rapporteur Sára Felszeghi. Fighting misinformation and disinformation is a key part of encouraging people to be vaccinated. Both demand and supply should be enhanced to promote the uptake of vaccinations.

The EESC called for a comprehensive approach to beating cancer, with a well‑functioning and integrated system of prevention in all its forms, including primary prevention (vaccination, healthy lifestyle), secondary prevention (screening) and tertiary prevention (care and rehabilitation). Both the rapporteur and the co-rapporteur also emphasised the urgent need to continue screening patients with lifelong cancer diagnoses, in order to detect potential secondary tumours.

Ms Angelova reaffirmed "the need for Member States to coordinate more and to exchange best practices" in order to be much more efficient in the fight against cancer and to increase vaccination coverage across the EU.

Vaccines must be accessible to all, and the EESC calls for more targeted endeavours to reach people from disadvantaged groups and people with specific risks. For vaccinations to be available and accessible, cancer prevention must be seen as a political priority and the necessary financial, material and human resources allocated accordingly.