The Coalition for Life-course Immunisation (CLCI) and the International Longevity Centre-UK (ILC) urges policymakers, healthcare professionals and charities across the EU to address “concerningly low” vaccination uptake among Europeans living with chronic conditions. Published today, the Hitting new heights report calls for more action to ensure people at greater risk have better information and access to vaccination.

Across Europe, up to 72,000 people die from the flu each year, and the mortality rate is ten times higher for those in a clinical risk group compared to people in the general population.

More than a decade has passed since EU member states committed to achieving 75% flu vaccine uptake in those with underlying health conditions. However, despite 1 in 4 Europeans living with at least two or more chronic conditions, just 45% of this group take up their annual flu jab. Pneumococcal vaccination coverage is even lower at around 20-30%. The report identifies a number of barriers which hinder uptake, including

• Misinformation – fake news can damage vaccine confidence.
• A lack of targeted communication – without tailored information, some chronic condition groups may feel disengaged with vaccination.
• A lack of spending – across much of Europe, less than 0.5% of health budgets are spent on vaccination.
• Accessibility barriers – economic aspects like out-of-pocket vaccine costs make it difficult for some people to get vaccinated.
• Complacency – some people with chronic conditions don’t deem vaccination necessary because they don’t regard themselves as being at a high enough risk.

With the flu season peaking in Europe and COVID-19 cases very high, the report authors argue more needs to be done to support those in clinical risk groups to access vaccination.

The authors call for EU national governments to make vaccinations free at the point of use and to deliver better and more tailored vaccination information for risk groups, working with local healthcare professionals, patient organisations and charities to co-design messaging. Finally, the report calls for a designated committee at the European Parliament to focus on reaching the 75% flu uptake target for Europeans with underlying health conditions.

Daphné Holt, Chair of CLCI, said:

“Millions of people across Europe are living with chronic conditions which put them at higher risk of severe illness from vaccine-preventable diseases. We know that vaccination is not just for children or older adults: at-risk people should also get vaccinated throughout their lives to better protect themselves.

To achieve this, more must be done at both a national and EU level, by charities, healthcare workers and politicians, to increase vaccination and encourage uptake to protect people from diseases like flu and pneumonia.”

Patrick Swain, Research and Projects Officer at ILC and report author, said:
“While we have seen relatively high COVID-19 vaccine uptake across Europe, huge gaps remain when it comes to Europeans with chronic conditions and flu and pneumococcal vaccine take-up.

Vaccines offer everyone a fighting chance, but they are even more crucial for individuals with health conditions that hinder the body’s ability to fight disease. With COVID-19 at the forefront of people’s minds, we need to harness the renewed enthusiasm for vaccination to make the case for other immunisations.

To achieve the WHO’s 75% flu vaccine uptake target set over a decade ago, we need greater commitment from European policy makers in order to hit new heights.”

David Sinclair, ILC Director and representing the ILC Europe Network added:

“There are significant inequalities in access to routine vaccinations across Europe. In some countries access to and rates of uptake of flu and pneumococcal vaccinations among people with chronic diseases is dismal. Vaccination is a key part of healthy ageing and can ultimately save money as well as prevent ill health.”

Note

You can download the report here.

This project has been carried out through an unrestricted educational grant from MSD.

According to the Green Book of Immunisation, the flu mortality rate in England from September 2010 to May 2011 was ten times higher in people aged 6 months to 65 ‘in a risk group’. For more information, visit: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/931139/Green_book_chapter_19_influenza_V7_OCT_2020.pdf