Flu Awareness Week, 22 – 26 October 2018

The Flu Awareness Week is a communication campaign marked across the WHO European Region every year in October. The campaign is organised by the WHO/Europe and aims to increase the uptake of seasonal influenza vaccination of people in risk groups. Every April the European Immunization Week is extended, to raise awareness of the importance of vaccination for people’s health and well-being.

ECDC supports the Flu Awareness Week by providing scientific evidence on vaccination.

Why a specific campaign on influenza?

Influenza is usually mild and most people recover quickly, but some people are at high risk of serious complications, some of which can be life-threatening and result in death. The elderly, pregnant women, young children and people with underlying health conditions are more likely than others to develop severe disease if they should be infected. In addition, health care workers are more exposed to different viruses on a daily basis, including the influenza virus, and should be vaccinated to protect themselves and their patients.

Influenza places a substantial burden on the health of people in Europe each year. It is estimated that 30% of the burden of communicable diseases in Europe is due to influenza. Up to 50 million people each year are estimated to have symptomatic influenza in EU/EEA countries and as a consequence between 15 000 – 70 000 are estimated to die from influenza associated causes and on a global level, 290 000-646 000 respiratory deaths are estimated to be related to influenza. In addition, the large number of mild to moderate infections result in work absences, losses to production and pressure on the health and social care services. 

Influenza is a disease with high social and economic costs, and vaccination is the best way to prevent the disease. As influenza viruses change, vaccination against influenza is needed every year to keep up with the circulating viruses. In the northern hemisphere, the seasonal influenza circulation is observed between November up to May, so October is the optimal time to receive an influenza vaccination.

Join the initiative to increase vaccination coverage by raising awareness of the importance of vaccination!