Flu Awareness Week, 5-9 October 2020
The Flu Awareness Week is marked across the WHO European Region every year in October. It aims to raise awareness of the importance of vaccination for people’s health and well-being and to increase the uptake of seasonal influenza vaccination of people with underlying risk factors.
The Flu Awareness Week is a communication campaign marked across the WHO European Region every year in October. The campaign is organised by the WHO/Europe and aims to increase the uptake of seasonal influenza vaccination of people in risk groups.
ECDC supports the Flu Awareness Week by providing scientific evidence on vaccination.
Why a specific campaign on influenza?
Influenza is usually mild and most people recover quickly, but some people are at high risk of serious complications, some of which can be life-threatening and result in death. The elderly, pregnant women, young children and people with underlying health conditions are more likely than others to develop severe disease if they should be infected. In addition, health care workers are more exposed to different viruses on a daily basis, including the influenza virus, and should be vaccinated to protect themselves and their patients.
Influenza is a disease with high social and economic costs, and vaccination is the best way to prevent the disease. As influenza viruses change, vaccination against influenza is needed every year to keep up with the circulating viruses. In the northern hemisphere, the seasonal influenza circulation is observed between November up to May, so October is the optimal time to receive an influenza vaccination.
Join the initiative to increase vaccination coverage by raising awareness of the importance of vaccination!
Latest news and reports
News story
Looking at newer enhanced seasonal influenza vaccines: a systematic review of efficacy, effectiveness and safety
Based on a systematic literature review, ECDC assessed the efficacy, effectiveness and safety of newer and enhanced inactivated seasonal influenza (flu) vaccines among those 18 years or older. These assessed are MF59® adjuvanted, cell-based, high-dose, and recombinant haemagglutinin influenza vaccines.
Surveillance and monitoring
Communicable disease threats report, 27 September - 3 October 2020, week 40
This issue of the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) covers the period 27 September - 3 October 2020 and includes updates on COVID-19 associated with SARS-CoV-2, West Nile virus, Ebola virus disease - eleventh outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, avian influenza and cholera.
Get informed
Factsheet about seasonal influenza
Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent flu is by getting a flu vaccine each year.
Risk groups for severe influenza
Some people are at high risk of serious complications as a result of influenza, some of which can be life-threatening and result in death.
See the influenza toolkit
Communication toolkit
Influenza communication guide: How to increase influenza vaccination uptake and promote preventive measures to limit its spread
The influenza vaccination communication guide provide advice, guidance and campaign materials to support national influenza vaccination campaigns with the purpose of increasing the influenza vaccination uptake in the EU Member States.
Read more
WHO Flu Awareness Campaign 2020
The campaign objective is to ensure that people across the European Region take informed decisions on remaining uninfected with influenza during the 2020/2021 season in order to minimize: sickness, death and impact on the health system, driving antibiotic resistance and the draining effect on the pandemic response.