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.
Seasonal influenza is a vaccine-preventable disease and annual influenza vaccination is the most effective way to prevent influenza. ECDC continues to emphasise that all Europeans who are recommended to have the influenza vaccine should get vaccinated.
The ISIRV (International Society for Influenza and other Respiratory Virus Diseases) Epidemiology Group and ECDC are holding an influenza epidemiology meeting at ECDC in Stockholm 16-18 January 2019.
The annual influenza meeting focused on new developments in influenza surveillance at the country and regional level, seasonal influenza vaccination programmes, provided an update on the global situation with regard to outbreaks of avian influenza and other emerging respiratory pathogens, and provided a forum for exchanging experiences from the past influenza season.
This online course was developed because seasonal influenza vaccination of health care workers (HCWs) is recommended in Europe but vaccination uptake remains low in most countries.