Steering Group Calls for Action in Fighting Influenza

The Steering Group on Influenza Vaccination has released their Manifesto calling for more action to increase seasonal influenza vaccination coverage rates in Europe to reduce the unacknowledged burden of this disease.

The Steering Group is calling for EU and national policy-makers, communities and organisations that represent people most impacted by influenza to increase influenza vaccination coverage in three ways: highlighting the burden of influenza and the role of vaccination; increasing awareness of influenza and improving public trust in vaccination; and improving the exchange of good practice and inter-professional collaboration at local and European level.

The Manifesto and the work of the Steering Group resonates strongly with both the latest European Commission Roadmap to Strengthen Cooperation Against Vaccine Preventable Diseases1 and the European Parliament’s ongoing discussions around a resolution in support of vaccination.2 There has been a lack of sustained pressure to improve vaccination coverage rates in recent years but there is now momentum to drive real change and reduce the burden of influenza across Europe, with communities coming together to tackle the avoidable impact of influenza.

”Our Manifesto aims to provide effective strategies to improve vaccination coverage ratesand ensure these are implemented to reach the 75% vaccination coverage target,” said Francoise Grosset te, Member of the European Parliament and co-chair of the EU Steering Group on Influenza Vaccination.