Influenza vaccination coverage rates in the EU/EEAArchived
In 2003 the decision-making body of WHO, the World Health Assembly, urged EU/EEA Member States to increase influenza vaccination coverage of all people at high risk and to attain a coverage of ≥75% among older people and persons with chronic illnesses by 2010. This motion was reaffirmed by a European Parliament declaration in 2005, calling on Member States to increase influenza vaccination in accordance with the WHO’s 2010 goal, and extended in a 2009 European Council recommendation to reach 75% vaccination coverage in older age groups by 2015.
Vaccination coverage rates in the EU/EEA
ECDC is via the network VENICE (Vaccine European new Integrated Collaboration Effort) collecting, sharing and disseminating information on national immunization programmes and provides guidance for improving the overall performance of the immunisation systems in EU/EEA Member States.
The latest data on vaccination coverage by country in the EU/EEA of different risk- and target groups are available in the following report:
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Vaccination coverage rates in the European region
A study, published in December 2017, has assessed the progress towards the vaccination goals. The results of this first comprehensive overview of seasonal influenza vaccine coverage in the European Region between 2008–09 and 2014–15 shows that influenza vaccination coverage among high-risk groups has dropped in the European Region over the last seven years, with half of the countries reporting a decreasing number of vaccine doses available.
About seasonal influenza prevention
Seasonal influenza causes 4 -50 million symptomatic cases in EU/EEA each year, and 15 000 – 70 000 European citizens die every year of causes associated with influenza. These figures indicate the high burden of influenza and its increasing social and economic costs to the world and highlight the importance of influenza prevention for seasonal epidemics.
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. Vaccination is especially important for people at higher risk of serious influenza complications: Individuals with specific chronic medical conditions, pregnant women, children aged 6-59 months, the elderly and healthcare workers.
All updates on influenza vaccination coverage
More about immunisation
Evidence assessment
Review of the scientific literature on drivers and barriers of seasonal influenza vaccination coverage in the EU/EEA
The report aims to provide a critical review of evidence on the barriers and drivers of seasonal influenza vaccination coverage in the EU/EEA. The report focuses on high-risk groups where high coverage of seasonal flu vaccination is most important. The 2009 Council of the European Union Recommendation on seasonal influenza vaccination encourages countries to implement measures that would increase seasonal influenza vaccination uptake to at least 75% for defined older age groups, and, if possible, for other risk groups. In support of this, the ECDC report summarises the evidence on what are the barriers and what are the drivers for seasonal influenza vaccination by each risk group
Public health area
Immunisation and vaccines
Vaccines represent one of the most effective and cost-saving public health intervention.