Search

Some people are at high risk of serious complications as a result of influenza, some of which can be life-threatening and result in death. The risk groups includes people who are more likely than others to develop severe disease if they should be infected, such as the elderly, pregnant women, young children and people with underlying health conditions.

The immunity that is elicited by influenza vaccines is not as long lived as the immunity following natural influenza infection. This is especially so for individuals in the so-called risk groups, hence people have to be vaccinated annually. There are three influenza immunisation strategies used in Europe: to protect the vulnerable, to protect healthy children, adolescents and adults and to reduce overall influenza transmission.

Injected trivalent inactivated influenza vaccines are most commonly used throughout the world. Influenza antigen preparation varies between manufacturers. The inactivated influenza vaccines available in the EU/EEA may contain either split virion influenza virus products or subunit influenza products.

Besides the change for many of the authorised influenza vaccines to include a second influenza B strain, there are other attempts to develop new influenza vaccines that would have increased effectiveness.

For infants the first encounter with influenza viruses commonly occurs in their first or second winter season. Subsequently, each individual acquires a number of influenza infections throughout life. It is expected that up to ~15% of a European population in a temperate climate is infected with influenza in any winter season with higher percentages in children and lower in older people.

The influenza 2017/18 surveillance season started in week 40/2017 & ended in week 20/2018. Here you find an overview of the ECDC main outputs during the season 2017/18.

Commonly asked questions about vaccines and immunisation with suggested answers that can be used to assist with conversations with patients, parents or caregivers, or made into information sheets.

Information on immunisation and childhood vaccination.

Immunisation is a safe and cost-effective way to protect people, especially infants and young children – from certain infectious diseases.