France, April 30 -- As vaccination awareness events continue across Europe this week, France is focusing on meningococcal infections and human papillomavirus (HPV), while nearly 300 leading figures have backed a Pasteur Institute-supported call to fight vaccine disinformation.

Published on Monday to coincide with the start of EU Vaccination Week, the text warns that political tensions around vaccines could undermine public confidence.

Growing concern over vaccine hesitancy in France is linked partly to political debates coming from the United States, signatories say.

"The open letter stems from our community's concern regarding the vaccine hesitancy we are seeing in France, linked to political positions, particularly across the Atlanti...