The EU has had on average low coverage rates for influenza vaccination compared to the WHO 75% target for at-risk groups and health professionals, which was acknowledged as an EU target in the 2009 Council Recommendation on seasonal influenza vaccination. While a few countries are close to reaching the target, coverage rates in others are as low as below 20%, bringing the average figure to 44.3% in Europe.

In the 2021/2022 season, the continuing COVID-19 Infection-preventive measures meant that flu did not occur and circulate as much as in normal circumstances. However, the picture is quite different for the upcoming 2022/2023 season. As most of the EU countries have lifted the restrictions in place for the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to a lesser political/media attention to influenza, the acuteness of raising influenza vaccine uptake is more urgent than ever. To put it simply, we face the double threat of COVID-19 and seasonal influenza. This threat has already become evident in the Southern Hemisphere with Australia recording concerning incidence of flu.

While several European countries took additional measures to try to mitigate the risks of a severe influenza season this winter, which should be highlighted as best practices going forward, the lack of a timely monitoring system of influenza vaccination coverage rates in Europe is making surveillance and progress tracking very difficult.

The Steering Group on Influenza Vaccination is inviting EU and Member State stakeholders to join the third annual EU Flu Day to raise awareness on the need for better protection against seasonal influenza for European citizens and health systems.