WHO Europe and ECDC issue joint statement on the low uptake of seasonal influenza vaccination in Europe
WHO Europe and ECDC have issued a joint statement on the low uptake of seasonal influenza vaccination in Europe and their concern that it may jeopardise the capacity to protect people in next pandemic.
In Ireland, the average uptake for influenza vaccination nationally during the period September 2016-March 2017 in those aged 65 years and older was 54.5%. However, fewer than one third of older people are vaccinated against seasonal influenza in half of European Region countries surveyed.
Influenza vaccination coverage among high-risk groups has dropped in the European Region over the last seven years, and half the countries report a decrease in the number of vaccine doses available. These are the results of the first comprehensive overview of seasonal influenza vaccine coverage in the European Region of the World Health Organization (WHO) between 2008/09 and 2014/15, conducted by the WHO Regional Office for Europe and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Low uptake of seasonal influenza vaccination in Europe jeopardizes the capacity to protect people during annual epidemics and the next pandemic, the two organizations warn.
Further information:
To read the full WHO/ECDC statement go to: http://www.euro.who.int/en/media-centre/sections/press-releases/2018/who-europeecdc-joint-statement-low-uptake-of-seasonal-influenza-vaccination-in-europe-may-jeopardise-capacity-to-protect-people-in-next-pandemic
Influenza vaccine uptake and adults 65 years and older in Ireland statistics are available on the HPSC website: http://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/influenza/seasonalinfluenza/influenzaandadults65yearsandolder/