October - November 2021
October marks the beginning of a new influenza season. In any given year, 5–15% of the population is affected by influenza, and every year there are 3–5 million cases of severe influenza and around 650 000 deaths globally. This represents a significant burden on people’s health, on health-care systems and for economies.
Vaccination remains the most effective measure to prevent severe influenza outcomes. That is why WHO/Europe is launching its 9th annual Flu Awareness Campaign – to increase influenza vaccination uptake among groups of people that are at greatest risk of experiencing severe outcomes due to infection. These groups are: older people aged over 65 years, pregnant women, people with underlying health conditions, and children under 5 years of age. Because health-care workers can be exposed to influenza through their line of work and because they are so essential to the COVID-19 pandemic response, they are also a key target group for this year’s campaign.
The campaign aims to enable Member States to promote acceptance and uptake of influenza vaccination among key risk groups. A suite of communications products – such as posters, social media tiles, videos and web stories – will be provided to Member States.
The 2021–2022 influenza season will be the second in which influenza and COVID-19 have the potential to co-circulate. Therefore, it is important to ensure that those at higher risk of severe complications from influenza are protected through vaccination, as are health-care workers, so that health systems are not overwhelmed by influenza outbreaks while dealing with COVID-19. This will help ensure sufficient resources remain available to provide care to those who need it, when they need it.