Time to Population Access to Vaccination in Europe: Evaluating the Inclusion of New Vaccines in NIPs

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Vaccines are a cornerstone of public health, yet access to newly approved vaccines varies significantly across Europe. While timelines for access to medicines are well documented, comparable evidence on the timing of vaccine inclusion in National Immunisation Programmes (NIPs) remains limited. This study aims to address this gap by assessing the time from European Medicines Agency (EMA) approval to NIP inclusion across European countries. Methods This study examines centrally approved vaccines from 2013 to 2025 across 30 European countries. Publicly available data were collected from national health authority sources and validated with industry input. Key milestones analysed include the date of marketing authorisation and the date of NIP inclusion, used as a proxy for population access. Where available, the timing of recommendations by National Immunisation Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) was also considered. Results Preliminary findings indicate substantial variability in the time between marketing authorisation and NIP inclusion across countries. Overall timelines for vaccines appear longer compared to those reported for other medicinal products. Inclusion rates differ across vaccine types, with faster uptake observed in some segments than others. Conclusions Marked disparities persist in access to vaccines across Europe. These findings highlight the need for more efficient and transparent processes to support timely inclusion of vaccines in NIPs. Strengthening early dialogue, improving alignment between assessment and decision-making bodies, and ensuring approaches tailored to vaccines could help reduce delays. Developing a consistent framework to monitor access is essential to inform policy and improve public health outcomes. Speakers/Panellists Dimitra Panteli European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, Berlin, Germany Frazer Goodwin European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients’ Associations , Brussels, Belgium Diane Lastennet HAS, Saint Denis, France Anja Schreijer Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands