EMA and ECDC have reviewed currently available studies and epidemiological data to provide a common position for EU/EEA countries on the current need and potential benefit of a fourth dose (second booster dose) of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
ECDC and EMA’s COVID-19 task force (ETF) have concluded that it is too early to consider using a fourth dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer’s Comirnaty and Moderna’s Spikevax) in the general population.
According to the latest ECDC/WHO report on tuberculosis (TB) surveillance and monitoring in Europe, a sharp drop (24%) in reported tuberculosis cases between 2019 and 2020 was probably exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which hindered detection and reporting.
Displaced people from Ukraine hosted in reception centres should be offered free access to SARS-CoV-2 testing and vaccination for COVID-19. Additionally, protective measures are recommended by ECDC in the report Guidance for the prevention and control of COVID-19 in temporary reception centres in the context of the displacement of people from Ukraine, published on 18 March.
As of 30 January 2022, 70.9% of adolescents aged 15-17 years and 34.8% of 10-14 year-olds completed the primary course of COVID-19 vaccination, though with a broad range across EU/EEA countries. More than half of adolescents aged 10 to 17 in the EU/EEA have not yet completed a primary course.
ECDC publishes ‘Considerations for the use of face masks in the community in the context of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant of concern’, a document which updates and complements ‘Using face masks in the community: first update - Effectiveness in reducing transmission of COVID-19’.
On 27 January, over 80 Romanian General Practitioners (GPs) and public health experts participated in an online workshop aimed at strengthening planning and implementation of information and vaccination caravans in rural areas.
The Omicron variant of concern (VOC) is currently spreading with unprecedented speed and intensity across the EU/EEA, with overall reported infection rates three times higher than the highest peak during the pandemic so far.
As of 20 January 2022, the Omicron variant has been identified in all EU/EEA countries. From 20 December 2021 to 9 January 2022, there were 23 EU/EEA countries with adequate sequencing volume that reported an estimated prevalence of Omicron VOC of 69.4%.