Steering Group on Prevention of Respiratory Infections

Despite the availability of safe and effective immunisation tools, respiratory infections like flu, RSV, COVID-19 and pneumococcal disease remain among the most common infectious diseases in Europe. These infections pose a significant and evolving threat to public health in Europe, affecting a range of at-risk groups including older adults, young children, pregnant people and those with underlying health conditions such as chronic respiratory, cardiovascular, metabolic or kidney diseases. Their cumulative burden, combined with rising health threats and mounting pressure on health systems, underlines the urgent need for stronger prevention and preparedness.

  • 1 in 5 Europeans are infected each year with influenza. The disease is associated with an estimated 70,000 deaths annually across Europe.
  • In the case of COVID-19, since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been over 274 million confirmed cases and approximately 1.6 million excess deaths across Europe between 2020 and 2023.
  • RSV affects all populations but can be particularly serious for infants, older adults and those with chronic health conditions. Each year in Europe, it leads to around 213,000 hospitalisations in children under 5 and approximately 158,000 hospitalisations in adults aged 65 and above.
  • Pneumococcal disease is a leading cause of pneumonia and can progress to invasive forms such as bloodstream infections, which carry a higher risk of death. In the EU 17,700 confirmed cases of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) were reported in 2022.

Our call to action

Despite the growing recognition of the burden of respiratory infections, Europe is falling short on respiratory infection prevention. This is why the Steering Group on Prevention of Respiratory Infections is calling for a new Council Recommendation on the value of immunisation against respiratory infections.

Manifesto_SG-on-Prevention-of-Respiratory-Infections

Who we are

The Steering Group on Prevention of Respiratory Infections is a group of policymakers, academics, scientists, patient group representatives, healthcare workers and civil society, and industry representatives advocating for increased immunisation uptake for respiratory infections in Europe.

The Co-Chairs of the Steering Group on Prevention of Respiratory Infections are:

  • Dolors Montserrat, Member of the European Parliament (European People’s Party, Spain) and former Minister of Health in Spain
  • Colin Russell, PhD, Professor of Infectious Diseases, Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, and Chair of ESWI

 

The Steering Group’s activities are supported by Vaccines Europe.

Acumen Public Affairs acts as the Secretariat of the Steering Group and can be contacted at respiratorySG@acumenpa.com

Adult Immunisation Board
de nerderlandse immunisate stichting

EU Respi Day

2025 marked the evolution of EU Flu Day to EU Respi Day. After five successful annual EU Flu Days, the change reflects the growing recognition of the cumulative public health and socioeconomic burden of flu, COVID-19, RSV, and pneumococcal disease.

This next chapter builds on years of advocacy for influenza prevention and broadens our call for EU action to address the wider challenge of respiratory infections.

A comprehensive EU approach to flu, COVID-19, RSV and pneumococcal disease will save lives, protect economic productivity, and maintain public trust while ensuring that the EU is prepared for future cross-border health threats.

EU Respi Day is a call to action for European citizens, to raise awareness of the need to be vaccinated against respiratory viruses and protect themselves and those around them. Vaccination is also critical to reducing the burden on national health care systems.

EU Respi Day 2025

On 15 October 2025, over 60 people gathered at the European Parliament to participate in the 2025 #EURespiDay event. Kindly hosted by MEP Billy Kelleher (Renew Europe, Ireland) with remarks by Steering Group Co-Chair MEP Dolors Montserrat (European People’s Party, Spain), the event marked the official launch of the Steering Group’s new manifesto calling for a Council Recommendation on the value of immunisation against respiratory infections.

The event brought together policymakers, academics, health professionals, and industry leaders to highlight the influenza policy framework as a model for effective EU health policy on immunisation and make the case for extending similar frameworks to COVID-19, RSV, and pneumococcal disease. Participants underlined the importance of harmonised EU immunisation targets, integrated surveillance systems, and promoting public and healthcare practitioner confidence in immunisation.

The event showcased the importance of identifying respiratory infection immunisation as a strategic priority for the EU and laid the groundwork for coordinated, resilient, and future-proof public health action across Europe.

Watch the recording here

DOWNLOAD THE Event report

EU Flu Day 2024

The 2024 edition of EU Flu Day brought together policymakers, academics, health professionals, and industry leaders, to discuss the importance of data surveillance and digitalisation in achieving 75% vaccination uptake for flu as well as for RSV and COVID-19.

By collecting and publishing harmonised data on flu, COVID-19, and RSV in a timely manner, the EU can better understand and address barriers to vaccination. Digital tools such as electronic vaccination registries are also an essential resource for improving vaccine confidence and supporting data-driven public health actions.

Watch the recording here

Previous editions

EU Flu Day 2023

EU Flu Day 2022

EU Flu Day 2021

EU Flu Day 2020

EU MANIFESTO
EVENTS

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