Conclusions of the high level hearing on seasonal influenza

30 April 2015, Luxembourg

Michael Sulzner

Public Health Directorate

DG Health & Food Safety 30 September 2015, Antwerp

Principle of subsidiarity

• Vaccination is a competence of the Member

States

• The Commission supports Member States in

maintaining or increasing vaccination coverage

against a range of vaccine-preventable diseases

• Collaboration focuses on diseases with

elimination and eradiction targets

Council Recommendation (2009/1019/EU) on seasonal influenza

vaccination

• Concerted action at EU level to mitigate the

impact of seasonal influenza by encouraging

vaccination among risk groups and health care

workers

• Action plans or policies aiming to improve

seasonal influenza vaccination coverage

• Vaccination coverage rate of 75 % by 2014-

2015

State of play on implementation of Council Recommendation

• In January 2014, Commission staff working

document on the state of play on the

implementation of the Council Recommendation

To support the development of vaccination

policies in the Member States

Aims of the high level hearing on seasonal influenza

• To contribute to comprehensive understanding

of the impact and benefits of vaccination

• To share best practices in implementing

seasonal influenza vaccination programmes

• To identify measures to increase seasonal

influenza vaccination coverage rates

Conclusions of the high level hearing on seasonal influenza

• Political leadership and policy ownership

• Influenza programme coordination

• National delivery frameworks

• Programme-integrated communication

strategies

Conclusions of the high level hearing on seasonal influenza

Annual influenza plans should contain

• Policy decisions in relation to the flu season

• Oversight of supply of antiviral medicines

• Information related to the procurement and

distribution of influenza vaccine

Conclusions of the high level hearing on seasonal influenza

Annual influenza plans should contain

• Oversight of vaccine supply and strategic

reserve

• Information related to the delivery of the

vaccine programme

• Data related to the monitoring and reporting of

key indicators

Conclusions of the high level hearing on seasonal influenza

• Economic evaluations should be considered as

an evidence-based communication tool towards

policy makers.

• Epidemiological studies should confirm growing

evidence of vaccine- and cost-effectiveness of

childhood influenza vaccination.

Conclusions of the high level hearing on seasonal influenza

• To strengthen sustainability of influenza

immunisation programmes it is important to

address both the public health and business

perspective

• Chief Medical Officers will be given feedback

about the findings of this stakeholder meeting.

• The results of this meeting will inform a further

Commission report.

The way forward

Council conclusions on vaccination as an effective-

tool in public health

Call for closer cooperation, inter alia

•To find best ways to allow stakeholders, including industry

and civil society, to express their positions

•To develop joint action programmes to share best practices

on national vaccination policies

•To encourage research (studies) and exchange information

related to the monitoring of vaccination impact

Commission web page on vaccination:

http://ec.europa.eu/health/vaccination/policy/index_en.htm

Conference web page:

http://ec.europa.eu/health/vaccination/events/ev_20121016_en.htm

Thank you for your attention