Acute respiratory infections

Acute respiratory infections are a health threat that we’re already witnessing, and vulnerable populations are especially susceptible to them. During the 2022/2023 winter season, we experienced a “tripledemic” – an increased number of cases of influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Europe and beyond. This also puts an enormous amount of pressure on healthcare systems. Vaccination is a key tool to fight this threat, and urgent action to increase vaccination coverage rates is needed.

Influenza

Seasonal influenza is a serious yet often under-recognised health challenge for citizens, as well as health systems. It is estimated that up to 50 million people are infected with seasonal influenza viruses in the EU and EEA every year¹. Up to 70,000 Europeans die from flu annually, particularly among at risk groups such as older adults².

Vaccination is crucial to address the public health challenge that flu poses. In Europe, there is a 75% target for flu vaccination coverage rate for 65+ years old but in 2017, only 44% of Europeans aged 65+ were vaccinated against flu³. Expanding the vaccination points to places like pharmacies and schools, and co-administration with other vaccines such as those for COVID-19 could help improve coverage rates.

Reaching the target of 75% coverage rate would mean increasing the number of doses administered to the population, so manufacturing would need to be ramped up accordingly. It takes roughly 6-12 months to produce new flu vaccines after the decision about which strains to include has been made. Therefore, forecasting of demand as early as possible is crucial to ensure enough doses will be produced and supplied. Furthermore, a dialogue between regulators, decision makers and the research-based pharmaceutical industry is needed for a strong response to emerging health threats like acute respiratory infections during the winter season.

Timely monitoring of vaccination coverage rates is also important to understand where coverage is low and further efforts are needed, as well as where coverage is high and what lessons can be learnt. Furthermore, this would allow us to address troubling trends as they become evident.

Vaccination against flu is an important part of adult immunisation schedules. Adopting a life-course approach to vaccination – vaccinating through childhood, adolescence and adulthood, would help protect people’s health and strengthen healthcare systems.

Vaccines Europe is a member of the Steering Group on Influenza Vaccination – a group of academics, scientists, healthcare workers and civic society, advocating for increased flu vaccine uptake in Europe. Its work includes issuing joint statements and open letters, as well as organising the annual EU Flu Day in October. To find out more about the Steering Group’s work, click here.

[1] https://vaccination-info.eu/en/disease-factsheets/influenza
[2] https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/seasonal-influenza/facts/factsheet
[3] Influenza vaccination rate, Eurostat https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/-/DDN-20191209-2