WHO Europe: not to give up influenza vaccines

Beijing. February 8. Silkroadnews - The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe calls not to refuse influenza vaccination, the Kazakh Telegraph Agency (KazTAG) reports with reference to the UN press service.
“Vaccination is the most effective measure to prevent severe disease caused by influenza. However, according to our research, influenza vaccination uptake has been steadily declining in a number of countries in the European Region. … I urge European countries to increase vaccination coverage to hit the goal of 75% uptake among older and other at-risk people,” the agency quoted Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe, saying on Thursday.
The experts are concerned by both low uptake of seasonal influenza vaccination across a number of countries and vaccine shortages observed. After all, the volume of vaccine procurement depends on demand.
As the 2017/18 influenza season peaks in western Europe, a number of countries have seen a rapid increase in severe cases and some are reporting excess mortality among the elderly, the UN reported.