European Commission, ECDC and WHO/Europe call to protect the unprotected from COVID-19 and influenza
date: 09/10/2023
The European Commission, the ECDC and WHO/Europe urge people who remain unprotected against both COVID-19 and seasonal influenza, especially the most vulnerable and at-risk, such as those with co-morbidities, the immunocompromised, the elderly and pregnant women, to take up vaccination to prevent or mitigate the impact of these co-circulating respiratory infections. This also applies to health care professionals who are more exposed to the risk of infection, and who need to protect their patients.
It is crucial that targeted vaccination campaigns are rolled-out to reach people at risk ahead of the winter season, including with the possibility to combine vaccination against COVID-19 and influenza. Now is again the time of the year to join forces to promote the benefits of vaccination and protect the most vulnerable as well as our health systems.
Clinicians should be encouraged to consider the early use of available antiviral treatments for COVID-19, RSV and influenza to prevent severe disease.
The Commission, following the recommendation of the European Medicines Agency, has recently authorised two adapted COVID-19 vaccines as well as two new vaccines and a medicine to protect the very young and the elderly against RSV.