Seasonal influenza vaccination in Europe : overview of vaccination recommendations and coverage rates in the EU Member States for the 2012-13 influenza season

In Europe, influenza occurs in regular annual epidemics in the winter season. Annual influenza epidemics are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Severe illness and complications are more common in certain risk groups. These include those with chronic medical conditions (e.g. cardiovascular, respiratory, renal and hepatic diseases, diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression due to disease or treatment, obesity, children and teenagers on long-term aspirin therapy) and individuals 65 years of age and above. The main public health intervention to prevent influenza is vaccination. To protect vulnerable individuals and reduce transmission, vaccination is also recommended for healthcare workers (HCWs). The aim of this survey was to provide an update on seasonal influenza immunisation policies and obtain vaccination coverage rates in European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) Member States for the 2012-13 influenza season. A standardised questionnaire was developed and made available as an online survey. The survey was rolled out in March 2014. Experts in each Member State entered data directly online. Austria provided data at a later point in time, i.e. at the time of writing this report. The United Kingdom provided data separately for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.