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Kassianos G, Cohen JM, Civljak R, Davidovitch N, Pecurariu OF, Froes F, Galev A, Ivaskeviciene I, Kõivumägi K, Kristufkova Z, Kuchar E, Kyncl J, Maltezou HC, Marković M, Nitsch-Osuch A, Ortiz de Lejarazu R, Rossi A, Schelling J, van Essen GA, Zavadska D. The influenza landscape and vaccination coverage in older adults during the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic: data from Several European Countries and Israel. Expert Rev Respir Med 2024; 18:69-84. [PMID: 38652642 DOI: 10.1080/17476348.2024.2340470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Raise Awareness of Influenza Strategies in Europe (RAISE) group gathered information about the healthcare burden of influenza (hospitalizations, intensive care unit [ICU] admissions, and excess deaths), surveillance systems, and the vaccine coverage rate (VCR) in older adults in 18 European countries and Israel. AREAS COVERED Published medical literature and official medical documentation on the influenza disease burden in the participating countries were reviewed from 2010/11 until the 2022/23 influenza seasons. Information on the framework for monitoring the disease burden and the provision for ensuring older adults had access to vaccination in their respective countries was provided. Data on influenza VCR in older adults were collected for the 2019/20 to 2022/23 influenza seasons. Data are reported descriptively. EXPERT OPINION Influenza presents a significant healthcare burden in older adults. Reporting outcomes across participating countries is heterogeneous, highlighting the need for standardized approaches. Although older adults receive free influenza vaccination, vaccine uptake is highly variable among countries. Moreover, hospitalization rates remain high even in countries reporting a high VCR. Increased awareness and education on the burden of disease and the broader use of improved influenza vaccines for older adults may help reduce the disease burden on this population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jean-Marie Cohen
- Open Rome, Paris, France
- Labo UR4129 / P2S, Université Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Rok Civljak
- Department for Infectious Diseases, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
- Department for Acute Respiratory Infections (Head), Dr. Fran Mihaljevic University Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nadav Davidovitch
- School of Public Health, Ben Guiron University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Oana Falup Pecurariu
- Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University Brasov, Brasov, Romania
- Children's Clinic Hospital, Brasov, Romania
| | - Filipe Froes
- Thorax Department, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Andrei Galev
- Scientific Applied Center for Military Epidemiology and Hygiene, Military Medical Academy, Sofiâ, Bulgaria
| | - Inga Ivaskeviciene
- Paediatirc Infectious Disease, Clinic of Children'sChildren's Diseases, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Kadri Kõivumägi
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Zuzana Kristufkova
- Medical Epidemiologist and Head of Department, Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health, Slovak Medical University Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Ernest Kuchar
- Head of Department,Department of Pediatrics with Clinical Assessment Unit, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jan Kyncl
- Medical Epidemiologist and Head of Department, Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Helena C Maltezou
- Research, Studies, and Documentation, National Public Health Organization, Athens, Greece
| | - Miloš Marković
- Immunology, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Aneta Nitsch-Osuch
- Department of Social Medicine and Public Health, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Raul Ortiz de Lejarazu
- National Influenza Centre, Hospital Clínico Universitario and University of Valladolid, Valladoild, Spain
| | | | - Jörg Schelling
- Medizinische Klinik IV, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Deutschland, Europe
| | | | - Dace Zavadska
- Department of Paediatrics, Riga Stradins University, Latvia, Europe
- Family Vaccination Centre, Children's Clinical University Hospital, Riga, Latvia
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Froes F, Timóteo A, Almeida B, Raposo JF, Oliveira J, Carrageta M, Duque S, Morais A. Influenza vaccination in older adults and patients with chronic disorders: A position paper from the Portuguese Society of Pulmonology, the Portuguese Society of Diabetology, the Portuguese Society of Cardiology, the Portuguese Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology, the Study Group of Geriatrics of the Portuguese Society of Internal Medicine, and the Portuguese Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology. Pulmonology 2023:S2531-0437(23)00201-5. [PMID: 38129238 DOI: 10.1016/j.pulmoe.2023.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Influenza affects millions of people worldwide each year and can lead to severe complications, hospitalizations, and even death, especially among vulnerable populations such as older adults and those with chronic medical conditions. Annual vaccination is considered the most effective measure for preventing influenza and its complications. Despite the widespread availability of influenza vaccines, however, vaccination coverage rates remain suboptimal in several countries. Based on the latest scientific evidence and expert opinions on influenza vaccination in older people and patients with chronic disease, the Portuguese Society of Pulmonology (SPP), the Portuguese Society of Diabetology (SPD), the Portuguese Society of Cardiology (SPC), the Portuguese Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology (SPGG), the Study Group of Geriatrics of the Portuguese Society of Internal Medicine (NEGERMI-SPMI), and the Portuguese Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SPDIMC) discussed best practices for promoting vaccination uptake and coverage and drew up several recommendations to mitigate the impact of influenza. These recommendations focus on the efficacy and safety of available vaccines; the impact of influenza vaccination on older adults; patients with chronic medical conditions, namely cardiac and respiratory conditions, diabetes, and immunosuppressive diseases; and health care professionals, optimal vaccination timing, and strategies to increase vaccination uptake and coverage. The resulting position paper highlights the critical role that vaccinations play in promoting public health, raising awareness, and encouraging more people to get vaccinated.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Froes
- Torax Department, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Lisboa, Portugal; Portuguese Society of Pulmonology (SPP), Portugal
| | - A Timóteo
- Cardiology Department, Hospital de Santa Marta, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Central, Lisboa, Portugal; NOVA Medical School, Lisboa, Portugal; Portuguese Society of Cardiology (SPC), Portugal
| | - B Almeida
- APDP Diabetes, Lisbon, Portugal; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - J F Raposo
- NOVA Medical School, Lisboa, Portugal; APDP Diabetes, Lisbon, Portugal; Portuguese Society of Diabetology (SPD), Portugal
| | - J Oliveira
- Infection Control and Prevention and Antimicrobial Resistance Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Portuguese Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SPDIMC), Portugal
| | - M Carrageta
- Institute of Preventive Cardiology, Almada, Portugal; Portuguese Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology (SPGG), Portugal
| | - S Duque
- Hospital CUF Descobertas, Lisboa, Portugal; Institute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal; Study Group of Geriatrics of the Portuguese Society of Internal Medicine (NEGERMI-SPMI), Portugal
| | - A Morais
- Portuguese Society of Pulmonology (SPP), Portugal; Nova Medical School, Lisbon Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Pulmonology Department, Hospital de São João, Centro Hospitalar Universitário São João, Porto, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; i3S - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
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Blasi F, Aliberti S. Vaccinations: What's best? Pulmonology 2022; 28:419-420. [PMID: 36180351 DOI: 10.1016/j.pulmoe.2022.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- F Blasi
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| | - S Aliberti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy; IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Respiratory Unit, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
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