Joint Statement of the Steering Group on Influenza Vaccination on the Council Conclusions on the Future of the European Health Union: A Europe That Cares, Prepares, and Protects

The Steering Group on Influenza Vaccination warmly welcomes the initiatives outlined in the Council Conclusions on the Future of the European Health Union: A Europe that cares, prepares and protects, which were adopted under the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union earlier this year. In particular, we strongly support those items promoting immunisation and prevention outlined in Section VI of the document.

We commend the European Commission and the Council for these efforts, whilst recognising the need for additional measures to address existing gaps and further enhance the effectiveness of these initiatives.

With the foundation of the Council Conclusions on the European Health Union laid, and as the EU continues to navigate a period of institutional change, the Steering Group on Influenza Vaccination therefore makes the following recommendations which we believe will be essential to fully achieve the stated ambitions within the European Health Union in the area of immunisation against respiratory infections.

Promotion of immunization against infections as a primary prevention tool in communicable and non-communicable diseases across the life course of individuals

We strongly support the call in the Council Conclusions for Member States and the European Commission to “promote healthy and stigma-free environments and engaged communities that encourage healthy lifestyle choices, addressing the promotion of vaccination”. Yet immunisation coverage rates for influenza, COVID-19, RSV and other respiratory pathogens of concern are often lower than they need to be to achieve sufficient public health protection. Therefore, establishing specific, measurable targets and data driven strategies to remove barriers and increase uptake across different countries – notably by considering the needs of older age groups and vulnerable populations – is crucial. Furthermore, ensuring adequate infrastructure for vaccine delivery across all countries is essential to achieving wider immunisation. This includes expanding access points for vaccination in schools and pharmacies, which is important to achieve vaccination targets.

Beyond the Council Conclusions on the European Health Union, the Steering Group on Influenza Vaccination believes that the 2009 Council Recommendation on seasonal influenza vaccination should also be updated to renew the 75% flu vaccination uptake target and expanding this to include COVID-19, RSV and other respiratory pathogens of concern. Looking forward, we therefore call on the current and upcoming Council Presidencies to ensure the role of immunisation against respiratory infections is considered in their health-related initiatives, and support Member States in the implementation of immunization programmes.

Increased effort in combating mis and dis-information on vaccination campaigns

We support the Council’s emphasis on strengthening the fight against misinformation through evidence-based awareness campaigns and transparency in anti-vaccine campaigns outlined in Section VI of the document. To build on this, we call on governments to do more with sustained public awareness campaigns to communicate the value of immunisation proactively, not just counter misinformation.

As highlighted in the Council Recommendation on vaccine-preventable cancers, which were recently adopted in June, it is fundamental to improve health literacy to address and support vaccine confidence, advocating for immunisation as a prevention tool and implementing, when available, the model for evidence-based awareness-raising campaign that the European Commission will develop. To do so, a robust framework for collaboration between governments, civil society organisations and other stakeholders needs to be in place, having in mind a life course approach to immunisation.

Investment in specialised Health Workforce training to improve immunisation rates

The prioritisation of national and EU-level investments in the health workforce is essential. One thing that is, however, not sufficiently acknowledged in the Council Conclusions is the importance of developing an EU Healthcare Workforce Strategy. We therefore call on Member States and the European Commission to collaborate closely with stakeholders, including civil society and industry, to prioritise investments in the health workforce. As included in the Steering Group’s Policy Recommendations for Empowering healthcare professionals for everyone’s protection, specialised training in immunisation practices and communication strategies for healthcare professionals is vital for increasing confidence and improving immunisation rates.

Increased development of innovative digital tools and uptake of digital health literacy for both HCPs and patients

We appreciate the increasing attention as noted in Section I of the document given to the development and uptake of innovative digital tools for health professionals and the integration of digital competencies in training. Enhancing digital health literacy is crucial not only among healthcare professionals but also among patients, empowering them to effectively navigate and utilise digital health resources for better immunisation outcomes. For instance, the creation of digital platforms that track individuals’ immunisation status and send reminders for vaccination appointments are a useful tool. Empowering HCPs and patients to using digital tools can help improve confidence.

The role of respiratory infection prevention through vaccination in performance-Based Antimicrobial Stewardship We applaud the focus on performance-based antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention. However, we would like to stress that the integration of immunisation against respiratory viruses is a key component of infection prevention strategies as vaccination has the ability to potentially curtail antibiotic use, preventing the development of AMR. This is currently not given due consideration and should be elevated in health policy discussions both at EU and national level.

Call to Action

Based on the Council Conclusions, we call on EU policymakers to prioritise respiratory immunisation on the 2024-2029 political agenda, by updating the 2009 Council Recommendation to renew calls for 75% uptake and include COVID-19, RSV and other respiratory pathogens of concern, and support Member States in the implementation of immunization programmes.

We urge the European Commission and Member States to implement these recommendations and ensure continuous monitoring enhanced by adequate and regular data collections and publication, enabling data driven and efficient policies and immunisation strategies. The Steering Group on Influenza Vaccination remains committed to supporting these initiatives and collaborating with all stakeholders to build a Europe that cares, prepares, and protects.