Council of the European Union recommendation on seasonal influenza vaccination

**Update Council of the European Union adopts recommendation on seasonal influenza vaccination**

The Council of the EU calls for "concerted action" at the EU level of the in order to minimize the impact of seasonal influenza by encouraging vaccination among risk groups and healthcare workers. The main objective is to reach the WHO target of 75 % vaccination coverage of risk groups by the 2014-2015 winter season. Member states should also try to reach this vaccination coverage rate for health care workers.

The Commission is invited to continue to support research on influenza through the Research Framework Programmes.

To read the full Recommendation click here.

**European Commission releases proposal on recommendation on seasonal influenza vaccination **

The release of the proposed Recommendation on 13 July 2009, has no doubt been brought forward as a result of the current pandemic of A/H1N1 Influenza. The proposed Recommendation is on seasonal flu and there are no specific recommendations on pandemic flu. However, there are several references in the pre-amble and the recommendation itself to World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations on increasing vaccine production in response to Pandemic Influenza.

The 12 page proposed Recommendation forms an attempt to bring the EU in line with certain WHO recommendations on seasonal flu and to increase vaccination rates across Europe. The Recommendation is based on principles of cooperation and aims to insure that national action plans are in place to improve vaccination coverage. The Recommendation sets out what these national action plans should look like and aim to achieve:

 Improve vaccination coverage to reach 75% of "at risk groups" no later than the winter season 2014/2015 and allocate sufficient resources to ensure that this can be achieved.
 Adopt common Definitions of at "at risk groups": "Older Age Groups" [1] and "People with underlying Medical Conditions." [2]
 Hold annual Vaccination update surveys in "at risk groups" according to European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) guidelines
 Foster Education and, training and Information exchange on seasonal influenza for healthcare workers and persons in "at risk groups," and their families.

Please find the full proposed Recommendation here

For More Information

 Please visit the DG SANCO page on Seasonal Influenza
 Please visit the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention Website

EPHA Related Articles

 WHO - European Commission Workshop on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan
 article 3027
 **Update**Novel Influenza A/H1N1 (Swine Flu) Pandemic
 article 3505
 Briefing note on Influenza
 **Update February 2009** ECDC: severe measures needed to combat flu
 EPHA report: fighting against infectious disease in Europe