Brussels, 08/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 8 July, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a Council recommendation on seasonal flu vaccination. The proposed recommendation calls on EU countries to ensure that 75% of their elderly population and 75% of people with some specific underlying health problems are vaccinated every year against seasonal flu. This target should be achieved by 2015 at the latest.
The proposal calls on each EU country to adopt a national action plan to improve seasonal flu vaccination coverage in order to reach the 75% target for the over 65 years population and those people with underlying medical conditions by the winter season 2014/2015. It is estimated that by then this may well represent one quarter of the EU population. The recommendation also calls for annual national surveys measuring the national uptake. It also stresses the need to increase the vaccine manufacturing capacity for seasonal flu vaccination. This is due to the fact that the same laboratory facilities are used to produce pandemic vaccines, for example against the influenza A H1N1 variant virus. The proposal needs now to be agreed with the Council and the European Parliament and should be adopted later this year.
Vaccination is the most cost effective way to reduce the debilitating effects that seasonal flu has every year on individuals, their families and society.
EU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou said: "This proposal recognises the importance of good forward planning. With A H1N1 we are in a pandemic situation but fortunately, so far, the virus has caused only mild to moderate symptoms in the majority of those infected. Seasonal influenza will hit Europe in early winter. We need to act now and step up our vaccine capacity for both seasonal flu and A H1N1, and we only have a narrow time frame to do so. This initiative helps to limit the effects of seasonal flu in the most vulnerable groups. It does so by using the means that have proven effective for years, but which, unfortunately, have not been made use of to an extent that would match their benefit."
A Commission press release indicated that vaccination coverage rates in older people vary considerably in Europe ranging from 2% in Lithuania to 80% in the Netherlands. (O.J./trans/rh)