TY - JOUR

T1 - Divergent COVID-19 vaccine policies

T2 - Policy mapping of ten European countries

AU - van Kessel, Robin

AU - Forman, Rebecca

AU - Milstein, Ricarda

AU - Mastylak, Alicja

AU - Czabanowska, Katarzyna

AU - Czypionka, Thomas

AU - Durand-Zaleski, Isabelle

AU - Hirche, Anja

AU - Krysinska-Pisarek, Magdalena

AU - Maynou, Laia

AU - Roberts, Bjelle

AU - Torbica, Aleksandra

AU - Vrangbæk, Karsten

AU - Wang, Yuxi

AU - Wouters, Olivier J.

AU - Mossialos, Elias

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s)

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Background: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the fragmented nature of governmental policy decisions in Europe. However, the extent to which COVID-19 vaccination policies differed between European countries remains unclear. Here, we mapped the COVID-19 vaccination policies that were in effect in January 2022 as well as booster regulations in April 2022 in Austria, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain. Methods: National public health and health policy experts from these ten European nations developed and completed an electronic questionnaire. The questionnaire included a series of questions that addressed six critical components of vaccine implementation, including (1) authorization, (2) prioritization, (3) procurement and distribution, (4) data collection, (5) administration, and (6) mandate requirements. Results: Our findings revealed significant variations in COVID-19 vaccination policies across Europe. We observed critical differences in COVID-19 vaccine formulations authorized for use, as well as the specific groups that were provided with priority access. We also identified discrepancies in how vaccination-related data were recorded in each country and what vaccination requirements were implemented. Conclusion: Each of the ten European nations surveyed in this study reported different COVID-19 vaccination policies. These differences complicated efforts to provide a coordinated pandemic response. These findings might alert policymakers in Europe of the need to coordinate their efforts to avoid fostering divergent and socially disruptive policies.

AB - Background: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the fragmented nature of governmental policy decisions in Europe. However, the extent to which COVID-19 vaccination policies differed between European countries remains unclear. Here, we mapped the COVID-19 vaccination policies that were in effect in January 2022 as well as booster regulations in April 2022 in Austria, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain. Methods: National public health and health policy experts from these ten European nations developed and completed an electronic questionnaire. The questionnaire included a series of questions that addressed six critical components of vaccine implementation, including (1) authorization, (2) prioritization, (3) procurement and distribution, (4) data collection, (5) administration, and (6) mandate requirements. Results: Our findings revealed significant variations in COVID-19 vaccination policies across Europe. We observed critical differences in COVID-19 vaccine formulations authorized for use, as well as the specific groups that were provided with priority access. We also identified discrepancies in how vaccination-related data were recorded in each country and what vaccination requirements were implemented. Conclusion: Each of the ten European nations surveyed in this study reported different COVID-19 vaccination policies. These differences complicated efforts to provide a coordinated pandemic response. These findings might alert policymakers in Europe of the need to coordinate their efforts to avoid fostering divergent and socially disruptive policies.

KW - COVID-19

KW - Europe

KW - Policy

KW - Policy analysis

KW - Policy monitoring

KW - Vaccines

U2 - 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.03.036

DO - 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.03.036

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 36967287

AN - SCOPUS:85151437173

JO - Vaccine

JF - Vaccine

SN - 0264-410X

M1 - 2804-2810

ER -