This report presents pooled COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) estimates for the first, second and third booster doses (compared to complete primary vaccination with no booster) against hospitalisation due to COVID-19 and COVID-19-related death in resident populations ≥50 years of age living in the community.
In this report, we present an update of the 2020 primary systematic review, to take into account more recent evidence on the efficacy, effectiveness and safety of newer and/or enhanced seasonal influenza vaccines for the prevention of laboratory-confirmed influenza in individuals aged 18 years and over.
This issue of the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) covers the period 31 March - 6 April 2024 and includes updates on SARS-CoV-2, cholera, avian influenza A(H5N1), swine influenza A(H1N2) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
Since the beginning of 2024, and as of 3 April, no MERS-CoV cases have been reported by WHO or national health authorities. The last reported case was in Saudi Arabia, with date of onset on 26 October 2023.
Avian influenza viruses (AIV) remain prevalent among wild bird populations in the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA), leading to significant illness in and death of birds.
Risks of an adverse event following influenza vaccination are far less common than complications related to influenza itself, and the adverse events are generally localised and mild.
Injected trivalent inactivated influenza vaccines are most commonly used throughout the world. Influenza antigen preparation varies between manufacturers.