Europe is sounding the alarm about healthcare vaccinations: only 22% were vaccinated against flu last year
Low coverage flu vaccination among medical personnel This is a serious concern throughout Europe. According to a recent report published by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), on average only 22% of European health workers have been vaccinated in the final season 2023-2024.
IN Spainthis figure is double the European average and, despite a decline compared to previous seasons, it has maintained coverage 43.8% in 2023-24 However this far from target coverage noted by the Ministry of Health, which sets a recommendation of achieving or exceeding 75% among health care workers.
In total, only eight EU/EEA countries reported medical vaccination coverage over the three seasons from 2021–22 to 2023–24 (Croatia, France, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Romania, Slovenia and Spain). Denmark and Norway did not have data for the 2023/24 season. The average for this target group was 28.3% in 2021–22, 24.7% in 2022–23 and 22.1% in the 2023/24 season..
For other countries, vaccination coverage Croatia decreased slightly from 27.5% in 2021-22 to 21.9% in 2023-24; Denmark and France They also saw a decrease to 22.4%; Germany maintained a high rate of around 58% in 2022–23 and 2023–24; V Hungary decreased to 16.9%; V Norway increased from 45% in 2021-22 to 39% in 2023-24; V Romania fell significantly to 5% in 2023–24 and stood at 45.9% in 2020–21; and in Slovenia decreased to 12.1%.
And compared to all of them, with the exception of Germany, the ECDC emphasizes that Spain’s coverage is high. However national experts call for raising rates and stimulating specialists both vaccinate themselves and recommend vaccination among the population. Likewise, ECDC emphasizes the need vaccination among health workers who are on the front lines due to their exposure to pathogens, interactions with vulnerable patients, and preventing staff shortages.
Children and adolescents
The ECDC divides vaccinations in Europe into groups. In case children and teenagers10 EU countries have reported coverage for this age group over the past three influenza seasons (Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia). For their part, Estonia, Iceland and Spain provided partial data only for some seasons.
The average coverage of this target group in the 2023/24 season was 7.2%, compared to 10% in the 2022/23 season and 5% in the 2021/22 season. In the 2023/24 season, this figure ranged from 0.9% (Norway) to 38.9% (Finland). The countries with the highest coverage of children and adolescents were Finland and Spain.. Finland saw a slight decline in coverage, from 40.1% in 2021–22 to 38.9% in 2023–24. In the meantime andSpain has seen a significant increase in vaccination rates, from 19% in 2022-23 to 36% in 2023-24..
Older adult population
Regarding the group population over 65 years old or moreone of the risk groups and priority groups for receiving influenza vaccine, 22 countries provided coverage data. Hungary, Iceland and the Netherlands reported coverage of people aged 60 years and over, and with the exception of Estonia and Germany, most countries provided data for the last three seasons.
For Season 2023–24the average coverage in this target group was 45.7% and ranged from 12% (Slovakia) to 78% (Denmark). By comparison, the average was 55.2% (from 12% in Slovakia to 81% in Denmark) in 2022–23 and 49% (from 13% in Slovakia to 75% in Ireland) in 2021–22.
In this context, ECDC mentions that Only Denmark and Ireland reached the 75% target. EU Council recommendations for three influenza seasons. Overall, the trends observed over the three seasons were relatively stable (changes
Other risk groups
Regarding pregnant womeneight countries (Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain) provided vaccination data, although some are more comprehensive than others depending on the season. Thus, only 5 countries reported the three seasons analyzed in the ECDC document. Average coverage in this group in the 2023/24 season was 16%; 8% in 2022–23; and 10% in the 2021–22 season. specifically, Spain reported the highest vaccination rate, reaching 55% coverage in 2023-2024.56% in 2022-23 and 58% in 2021-22.
On the other hand, only three countries provided data on vaccination of adults over 65 years of age with chronic diseases corresponds to the last season 2023–24. Denmark achieved 29% coverage, France 25% and Norway 34%. Although, as stated in the document, the denominator may vary depending on the country, since it was not specified in the data provided.
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