EXTENDED-EPIET is a training programme for epidemiologists in the area of communicable diseases. The Extended European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EXTENDED-EPIET) involves the 25 European member states (MS), Norway, Romania, Bulgaria, Switzerland and WHO.The rationale behind the EXTENDED-EPIET programme is the firm conviction that field epidemiology can only be mastered by in-service training with adequate supervision. As a complement to the theoretical training received in academic settings, EPIET fellows undergo a two-year field assignment devoted to practical (`learning by doing`) training in epidemiology at national and regional European Public Health institutes in charge of surveillance and control of communicable diseases. Each fellow is sent for two years to a host institute of an EU MS different from his/her country of origin where they are closely supervised by senior epidemiologists.The training sites are selected from EU member states institutions in charge of epidemiology, public health, environmental health, or surveillance. The field assignment starts after the completion of an introductory course and ideally after completion of a language-training course. During his/her field assignment, the EPIET fellow is requested to do field investigations, to develop or plan a research project, to get acquainted with laboratory methods, to practice in communication (oral and/or written presentations at scientific meetings, congresses, or to peer groups), and to carry out surveillance activities. EPIET fellows can also be asked to contribute to international missions mainly under WHO and collaborating centres umbrella. This project will train 30 fellows` epidemiologists and 60 supervisors/trainers. In addition, collaboration with national institutes will continue and EPIET courses and modules will be offered to 60 external participants. The programme is targeted at young public health professionals. After their training, EPIET fellows, their trainers and supervisors will constitute a core group of epidemiologists, trained with similar methods, available for the investigation of public health threats in and beyond Europe. They are an essential part of the response capacity to PH threats in EU.
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General objectives of this project are 1: To operate a surveillance Community network for vaccine preventable infectious diseases (pertussis, measles, rubella and congenital rubella syndrome, mumps and varicella) using epidemiological and laboratory surveillance methods; 2: To disseminate and exchange information on vaccine preventable disease occurrence; 3: To create an inventory of sentinel physician/paediatrician networks in Member States; 4: To identify strengths and weaknesses in surveillance systems for VPD and 5: To create a network of competent sources of reliable data on VPD in each Member State.
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