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.
COVID-19 vaccines aim to prevent COVID-19 by triggering an immune response. Safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines are a powerful tool for controlling the pandemic.
In order to promote an exchange of emerging good practices and lessons learned regarding equitable uptake of COVID-19 vaccination in EU/EEA countries, ECDC held a webinar on 23 June 2021 to bring together stakeholders from national public health authorities and from civil society.
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.