Animal diseases cost the global economy more than €250 billion per year, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). However, vaccination rates for most notifiable animal diseases are below 20%. This represents a missed opportunity.
That is why WOAH has unveiled the PREVENT project, a public-private platform for dialogue on animal disease prevention. The five-year initiative will bring together governments, international organisations and industry stakeholders with a particular focus on vaccination. This reflects the growing recognition at a global level that prevention is a strategic imperative in health security, food security and economic resilience.
WOAH’s PREVENT Forum, which will hold its first technical session in October 2026, should prompt us to reflect on how the EU and Member States approach preventive health policy in animal health. It is a valuable chance to think about how we can work together to solve a shared problem.
Read and find out more about the PREVENT project
Advocating for vaccination
The risks posed by infectious diseases to European agriculture and food security are significant. For example, recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have illustrated how a vaccine-preventable disease can affect animal health, farmers’ incomes and regional economies.
Somewhat counterintuitively, vaccination efforts can trigger trade restrictions. Some importing countries remain concerned that vaccinated birds and the products thereof could carry the virus without showing clinical signs. This leaves us with the contradictory situation in which people who are vaccinated are not prevented from traveling, but the movement of vaccinated animals is restricted. It is important that European voices advocate for consistent approaches to prevention at every opportunity.
Prevention is better than cure
Europe can also do more at home to foster a preventative mindset. The EU Animal Health Law supports robust surveillance, biosecurity and emergency response mechanisms.
New vaccines hold real promise to protect animal health and our agrifood sectors
However, current approaches focus too much on managing outbreaks after a disease is detected, and too little on preventing the disease in the first place. The old adage that prevention is better than cure applies here, with the addendum that prevention is cheaper too.
New vaccines hold real promise to protect animal health and our agrifood sectors. By enhancing access and uptake of quality vaccines, and supporting the development of novel animal immunisation products, Europe can bolster its industry while playing a leading role at global level. The EU’s policy goal to accelerate adoption of novel vaccines – recently reinforced by the BioTech Act – is an opportunity to unlock the full potential of prevention.
It’s time to set a strong example locally while advocating internationally. The WOAH PREVENT forum provides an opportunity for Europe to support preventive animal health at a global level while embracing the power of vaccination in the EU.
The old adage that prevention is better than cure applies here, with the addendum that prevention is cheaper too
How the EU can enhance animal disease management
- Promote more preventive approaches to disease management.
- Support the development and deployment of innovative vaccines.
- Strengthen coordination between Member States on vaccination deployment, preparedness planning and communication strategies.
- Support a more harmonised EU animal vaccination strategy.
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