Abstract
Since 2008, annual surveys of influenza vaccination policies, practices and coverage have been undertaken in 29 European Union (EU)/ European Economic Area (EEA) countries. After 2009, this monitored the impact of European Council recommendation to increase vaccination coverage to 75% among risk groups. This paper summarises the results of three seasonal influenza seasons: 2008/09, 2009/10 and 2010/11. In 2008/09, 27/29 countries completed the survey; in 2009/10 and 2010/11, 28/29 completed it. All or almost all countries recommended vaccination of older people (defined as those aged ≥50, ≥55, ≥59, ≥60 or ≥65 years), and people aged ≥6 months with clinical risk and healthcare workers. A total of 23 countries provided vaccination coverage data for older people, but only 7 and 10 had data for the clinical risk groups and healthcare workers, respectively. The number of countries recommending vaccination for some or all pregnant women increased from 10 in 2008/09 to 22 in 2010/11. Only three countries could report coverage among pregnant women. Seasonal influenza vaccination coverage during and after the pandemic season in older people and clinical groups remained unchanged in countries with higher coverage. However, small decreases were seen in most countries during this period. The results of the surveys indicate that most EU/EEA countries recommend influenza vaccination for the main target groups; however, only a few countries have achieved the target of 75% coverage among risk groups. Coverage among healthcare workers remained low.
Highlights
Influenza is a contagious viral respiratory infection, which typically occurs as epidemics during the winter months in temperate zones
We present and compare vaccination coverage data for the older population, clinical risk groups, pregnant women and HCWs obtained from the three latest consecutive Vaccine European New Integrated Collaboration Effort (VENICE) surveys
Of the 29 European Union (EU)/Economic Area (EEA) countries participating in the VENICE project, provided data for 2008/09 influenza season (Bulgaria and Luxembourg did not respond to the survey); countries reported data for 2009/10 season; 28 countries responded to the survey that collected data for the 2010/11 influenza
Summary
Influenza is a contagious viral respiratory infection, which typically occurs as epidemics during the winter months in temperate zones. The number of people affected varies from year to year among countries, making it hard to predict the annual number of deaths or economic impact. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) estimates that on average nearly 40,000 people die prematurely each year from influenza in countries of the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) covered by Vaccine European New Integrated Collaboration Efforts (VENICE). Death has been reported in 0.5–1 per 1,000 cases of influenza, with the highest hospitalisation rates occurring among children less than two years of age and individuals ≥65 years in United States [5]. Unlike the situation for most childhood vaccines, the European policy for influenza is protection of those at higher risk either directly by vaccinating them or indirectly by vaccinating those who are likely to infect them (healthcare workers (HCWs) and pregnant women). Vaccination of pregnant women protects the women during and immediately after pregnancy and decreases the risk to their infant [7]
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