La gripe es una enfermedad vírica muy contagiosa que suele aparecer durante los meses más fríos. Puede ocasionar graves dolencias y a menudo se confunde con un resfriado común, mucho más leve.
La vacunación desempeña un papel fundamental en la protección de los ciudadanos contra dicha enfermedad. A pesar de que existen vacunas seguras y eficaces, no se vacunan los suficientes europeos para detener su transmisión.
La Comisión anima a los países de la UE a fomentar la vacunación contra la gripe estacional entre las personas con riesgo de caer gravemente enfermas en caso de padecerla. De acuerdo con una propuesta de la Comisión, los ministros de Sanidad de los países de la UE adoptaron el 22 de diciembre de 2009 una Recomendación sobre vacunación contra la gripe estacional en la que se aconsejaba a los países de la UE que intentaran que de aquí a 2015 se vacunara contra la gripe estacional el 75 % de los grupos de riesgo, entre los que se incluyen las personas mayores y el personal sanitario.
En caso de gripe pandémica, generalmente de mayor gravedad que la gripe estacional, la Comisión aporta su apoyo a los Estados miembros, sobre todo en estrategias de vacunación. En 2009 emitió unas directrices con ese objeto durante el brote del virus H1N1.
Iniciativas: Recomendación del Consejo sobre vacunación contra la gripe estacional y Documento de trabajo de los servicios de la Comisión sobre las estrategias contra la pandemia de gripe H1N1 de 2009 
Más información sobre vacunación contra la gripe:
ECDC has issued a report highlighting the importance of building trust for public health organisations in order for them to communicate effectively on immunisation.
The report investigates an increase in the incidence of narcolepsy in children and adolescents in 2009 and 2010.
During the influenza season citizens should adopt preventative measures recommended by their national authorities. These include personal hygiene measures and vaccination for those recommended. Vaccination is the single most effective way to prevent serious illness.
New funding to help immunize millions of people against preventable diseases will be pledged on Monday, 13 June, by EU Development Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs.
This study follows a request from the European Commission to the European Centre for Diseases Prevention and Control to provide scientific public health information and advice concerning risk groups for immunisation in Europe.
Parallel session on vaccination. Module 2 - Implementation of Vaccine Strategy
Parallel session on vaccination. Module 1 - Regulatory Procedure and Development of Vaccination Strategies
ECDC has issued a report highlighting the importance of building trust for public health organisations in order for them to communicate effectively on immunisation.
The report investigates an increase in the incidence of narcolepsy in children and adolescents in 2009 and 2010.
During the influenza season citizens should adopt preventative measures recommended by their national authorities. These include personal hygiene measures and vaccination for those recommended. Vaccination is the single most effective way to prevent serious illness.
New funding to help immunize millions of people against preventable diseases will be pledged on Monday, 13 June, by EU Development Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs.
This study follows a request from the European Commission to the European Centre for Diseases Prevention and Control to provide scientific public health information and advice concerning risk groups for immunisation in Europe.
The success of vaccination programmes has resulted in a significant decline of many infectious diseases across Europe over the years.
The journalist winner of the EU Health Prize for Journalism, first edition (2009 - Estelle Saget), wrote "Questions and Answers" about influenza and vaccination. Available in French only.
Preliminary information indicates that high-risk groups for severe or fatal illness identified during the pandemic remain at heightened risk, and that most of the fatal cases had not been vaccinated.
Europe is now approaching the first winter season after the 2009 pandemic influenza. What can we expect? Has anything changed with seasonal influenza? What can people do to protect themselves and others? To answer these questions, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control launched a theme site about seasonal influenza
La gripe es una enfermedad infecciosa que provoca cada año numerosas muertes e importantes costes económicos y sanitarios en la Unión Europea. La Comisión Europea considera fundamental vacunar con carácter prioritario a los grupos llamados «de riesgo», con el fin de limitar las pérdidas.
The programme aims to support European Bodies and the Member States in the enactment of recent European Council Recommendations and Communications on seasonal influenza immunisation and pandemic preparedness.
Por primera vez, la Semana de Vacunación empieza simultáneamente en 112 países y territorios de tres regiones de la OMS: las Américas, Europa y el Mediterráneo Oriental. El objetivo es ampliar la cobertura de vacunación y crear conciencia acerca de la importancia de las vacunas.
European Commission proposal for a recommendation to increase seasonal vaccination coverage in the EU Member States, in particular in risk groups.
Today, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a Council recommendation on seasonal flu vaccination. The proposed recommendation calls on EU countries to ensure that 75% of their elderly population and 75% of people with some specific underlying health problems are vaccinated every year against seasonal flu. This target should be achieved by 2015 at the latest. Vaccination coverage rates in older people vary considerably in Europe ranging from 2% in Lithuania to 80% in the Netherlands. Additional measures mentioned in the proposal include education and training for healthcare workers on seasonal influenza as well as information to those people targeted for vaccination and their families. Each country should report annually to the Commission on the progress they make with vaccination coverage until 2015 and then every 3 years.
