Economy 29 October 2024, 4:11pm

ECDC reports sub-optimal Covid, influenza vaccination uptake

Portfolio

Seasonal influenza and COVID-19 vaccination uptake for risk groups such as the elderly were sub-optimal in several EU/EEA Member States during the 2023-2024 season, according to two reports released on Tuesday by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

Influenza vaccination coverage rates for older adults

The seasonal flu vaccination rate for people aged 65 and over during the 2023-2024 season varied significantly between countries, from 12% to 78%, with only two countries exceeding 75% vaccination coverage in this age group.

This underscores the need for more focused vaccination efforts,

the ECDC said.

Twenty-two countries reported vaccination coverage rats (VCRs) for adults 65 years old and above; Hungary, Iceland and the Netherlands reported VCRs for adults 60 years old and above (Figure 3). Most countries reported data for all three influenza seasons between 2021–22 and 2023–24, with the exception of Estonia, Germany and the Netherlands.

For the 2023–24 season, the median VCR in this target group was 45.7% and ranged from 12% (Slovakia) to 78% (Denmark).
In comparison, the median VCR was 55.2% (range: 12% in Slovakia to 81% in Denmark) in 2022–23 and
49% (range: 13% in Slovakia to 75% in Ireland) in 2021–22.

It is worth noting that only Denmark and Ireland reached the EU Council Recommendation’s 75% target in all three influenza seasons.

In the 60+ age group, the VCR was 20% in Hungary both in 2021-22 and 2022-23, and dropped to 18% in 2023-24.

Data by Hungary's National Centre for Public Health and Pharmacy (NNGYK) showed the following VCRs in this age group:

The influenza vaccination coverage for the population aged 3 and above was (is) a lot lower, though:

Read our report on the Hungary's latest epidemiological statistics and a warning by one of the country's leading epidemiologists by clicking on the links below.

Influenza vaccination coverage rates for pregnant women

Eight EU/EEA countries (Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain) reported VCRs in pregnant women but with varied completeness depending on the season. Five countries reported data for all three seasons between 2021–22 and 2023–24.

The median VCR in this target group

in 2023–24 was 16%;
in 2022–23 it was 8% and
in 2021–22 it was 10%.

Spain reported the highest VCRs, with rates of 55%, 56% and 58% in the 2021–22, 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons, respectively. In the other countries (Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal and Slovenia), the rate ranged from 1% to 26% for the 2023–24 season.

The VCRs in this target group in Hungary were 1% in 2021-22 and 2022-23 and 2% in 2023-24.

Denmark showed a decrease in VCR from 37% in 2021–22 to 26% in both 2022–23 and 2023–24. Germany only reported a VCR in 2021–22, which was 18%. Hungary showed a slight increase from 1% in 2021–22 and 2022–23 to 2% in 2023–24. Lithuania’s VCR increased from 3% in 2021–22 to 6% in 2023–24.

Influenza vaccination coverage rates for healthcare workers

Eight EU/EEA countries reported VCRs in healthcare workers for all three seasons from 2021–22 to 2023–24 (Croatia, France, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Romania, Slovenia and Spain).

The median VCR in this target group was

28.3% in 2021–22,
24.7% in 2022–23 and
22.1% in 2023–24.

A decrease of 2–16 percentage points was observed across the three seasons in all reporting countries except Germany.

The respective VCRs for Hungary were:

23% in 2021–22,
22% in 2022–23 and
17% in 2023–24.

Vaccination rates against COVID-19

Vaccination rates against COVID-19 between September 2023 to July 2024 vary even more from 0.02% (Romania) to 66.1%, with median coverage among people 60 years and older at just 14%.

Vaccination is one of the most effective measures we have to protect the most vulnerable in society from severe disease, hospitalisation and death. With so few countries so far from reaching adequate levels of protection for target groups, it is essential to increase vaccination uptake as we enter the winter season,

said Pamela Rendi-Wagner, ECDC director.

With the upcoming winter season, a co-circulation of seasonal influenza, RSV, SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses is expected, putting significant strain on health systems and disproportionately affecting people in high-risk groups, such as the elderly and people with weakened immune systems and underlying conditions.

Vaccination among frontline healthcare workers is also important, given their exposure to pathogens, their interaction with vulnerable patients and to prevent workforce shortages.

In addition to vaccination, basic preventive measures are important to consider to reduce virus transmission.

ECDC recommends

staying at home if you have symptoms of a respiratory virus,
respecting respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette,
frequent hand washing and
ventilation of indoor spaces.
Also, wearing a mask in crowded places or around vulnerable people can be considered when experiencing symptoms.

Elderly Hungarians couldn't give a toss about COVID-19

For the age group 60 years and above, approximately 28.7 million people received a dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The median coverage among people in this age group was 14.0% (range: 0.02–66.1%), with high variation across countries. Among the 28 countries reporting data for this target group, none reported a coverage ≥80%.

In the 60-69 age group Hungary had the second lowest VCR of just 0.5%.

In the 70-79 age group, Denmark crossed the 80% mark, while

Hungary finished third to last with a 1.1% VCR,

with only Malta (0.5%) and Romania (0.02%) performing even worse.

For the age group 80 years and above, approximately 7.3 million people received a dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The median coverage among people in this age group was 21.5% (range: 0.03% in Romania and 93.9% in Sweden), with high variation across countries.

Among the 27 countries reporting data for this target group, three countries reported a coverage ≥80% (Ireland; 80.3%, Denmark; 88.6% and Sweden; 93.9%).

Coverage in Hungary was 1.3%, beating only Malta (1.2%) and Romania (0.03%).

Uptake

Across the 28 reporting countries, approximately 31.3 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered during the reporting period among the total population.

Around 24 million doses (76.7% of the total doses administered) were the Comirnaty Omicron XBB.1.5 (Pfizer BioNTech) vaccine.

Around 687 529 doses (2.2% of the total doses administered) were the Nuvaxovid XBB.1.5 (Novavax) vaccine.

Approximately 1 254 576 doses (4.0% of the total doses administered) were the Spikevax XBB.1.5 (Moderna) vaccine and around 589 doses (<0.1% of the total doses administered) were the Bimervax (Hipra) vaccine.

Approximately 270 002 doses (0.9% of the total doses administered) were reported as ‘other vaccine product’. The remaining administered doses (approximately 5.1 million doses, representing the 16.2% of the total doses administered) were reported as ‘unknown vaccine product’.