On 22 December 2009, health ministers from every EU Member State made a new commitment: to vaccinate at least three quarters of all residents aged 65 years and older. Now new data from Eurostat, the EU statistics agency, shows governments have failed.
Story highlights
- 44% of people in Europe aged 65 years and older are vaccinated
- No EU country has hit its target to vaccinate three out of four people in that risk group
- There are no penalties for missing this target
- Older people are just one key target group
- WHO says pregnant women are the top priority, followed by health workers and people with chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma and heart failure
No EU Member State has reached its 75% target and the rate across the EU is 44.3%. However, there are no political consequences: while there are penalties for breaching EU rules on carbon emissions, budget deficits or employment regulations, there is no sanction for missing vaccination targets.
The flu vaccination targets are considered to be ‘soft law’ rather than ‘hard law’, meaning they are not legally binding. Strict EU health targets are rare because health is a matter for national governments rather than a European responsibility.
44% of those aged 65 and over in the EU vaccinated against influenza
➡️ For more information: https://t.co/m9PyVTepfc pic.twitter.com/q2thQKHpMZ
— EU_Eurostat (@EU_Eurostat) December 9, 2019
It may have sounded like a modest goal. After all, reaching just three quarters of a key target group is still a long way short of protecting all at-risk citizens.
It would still leave 25% of older people unvaccinated. And the agreement reached at the 2009 European Council of health ministers ignored other key groups such as pregnant women and people with chronic conditions.
However, some countries were working from a very low base, with flu vaccination rates in single digits – hence the compromise agreement not to aim for universal vaccination in risk groups. There was a clear East-West divide: most EU members in the east had very low flu vaccination rates but boasted infant immunisation rates that were often the envy of their western neighbours.
Unhappy anniversary
Fast forward a decade and the East-West divide remains. Top of the table for 2018/2019 is the UK at 72.6%, followed by the Netherlands with 64%. These countries are the only ones to have ever crossed the 75% threshold – but have not sustained earlier progress.
And yet, they are the best of a bad bunch. Six countries (Romania, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Latvia and Estonia) report flu vaccine uptake rates below 20%. A further six countries (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece and Poland) did not report 2017/2018 data.
Modest improvements have also been recorded by Iceland, Ireland, Finland and Portugal but, overall, the picture is discouraging.
As experts call on policy makers to focus on life-course immunisation, the dire flu stats show much work remains to be done. In its latest report on the 2019/2020 flu outbreak, the European Centre for Disease Prevention & Control (ECDC) says older people are at particularly risk from the strain of flu virus currently circulating.
While the ECDC guidelines follow the European Council’s target of reaching 75% of older people, the WHO lists pregnant women as the top priority for flu vaccination. Some countries in Europe are rolling out campaigns aimed at boosting flu vaccine uptake during pregnancy, but others are less active.
Despite the apparent lack of urgency in some European countries, flu remains a serious burden on individuals, communities and health systems. Each year, it affects 5-10% of the world’s population resulting in up to 650,000 deaths and 3 to 5 million cases of severe illness worldwide.
In Europe, flu puts significant pressure on hospital systems during the winter months and is responsible for thousands of ‘excess deaths’ i.e. people who would not have otherwise died at that time.
Dr Pasi Penttinen, ECDC Head of Influenza Disease Programme, acknowledged that improving vaccine uptake is the best way to address the annual epidemic. ‘Achieving high vaccination coverage rates for those particularly at risk of developing severe complications remains a serious public health challenge,’ he said.
‘The best way to prevent or minimize severe disease from influenza among vulnerable groups is timely vaccination, even though the effectiveness of the vaccine varies depending on the virus in circulation. Sufficient vaccination coverage also saves healthcare systems money in decreased consultation rates and hospitalisations.’
An event will be held in the European Parliament on 21 January to mark the 10-year anniversary of the European Council commitment to improve flu vaccination rates in older people. Find out more
D
March 22nd, 2020
Haha
All the countries suffering covid 19 are flu vaccine uptakers…. The country’s that don’t use the e poisons and are nit invilved in tbe lies are very very very low on numbers now…. Evil profiteering,,, Stick your poisin shots
Gary Finnegan
March 23rd, 2020
First of all, it’s hard to believe that someone would celebrate Covid-19 outbreaks anywhere.
The pandemic is global. Countries are at different stages of the outbreak, and testing for it with varying intensity (sometimes due to limited resources). But make no mistake, nobody is immune from the coronavirus.
Gareth Powell
March 28th, 2020
Unless there is a big change in the current infection/death rate tables, there seems to be a strong possibility that countries carrying out high percentage flu vaccinations are suffering more.
Surely something to be considered at least.
Gary Finnegan
March 30th, 2020
It may currently look as though COVID-19 rates are highest in developed countries, but that is very likely to be related to the capacity to test for the virus.
There is no plausible way that flu vaccination rates are connected to coronavirus caseload.
Nadia Henrichs
March 31st, 2020
They are precisely and scientific data to prove it. See for yourself … but I’m sure you already know this https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31607599/
Derek
April 11th, 2020
There actually is a plausible way that vaccination rates are connected to coronavirus caseload
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340182781_Consider_Influenza_Vaccine_Type_in_Patients_infected_with_COVID-19
The mortality rate in Italy is 28 times that of Norway. This investigation suggests that in particular the adjuvanted trivalent vaccine is potentially eliciting a viral mismatch condition which is either worsening the condition of the patient whilst fighting COIVD19 or following the infection due to the presence of the Yamagata lineage influenza or a type B mismatch. An adjutant creates a stronger immune response and this type of response may be eliciting the cytokine storm conditions observed in COVID19 patients. [14].
Christine Kincaid
April 15th, 2020
How is there ‘no way ‘ that it is plausible?
Kaycie
April 18th, 2020
Is it not true that if you’ve had the flu jab, you will test positive for covid19?
Gary Finnegan
April 20th, 2020
No. You will test positive if infected with the novel coronavirus.
Patrick A. Crawley
April 24th, 2020
Thank you for your input. Is this your personal opinion or is it a message on behalf of a vaccine manufacturer? And, you may know that the happiest moment in China for 99% of laowais is the departure lounge to fly anywhere else.
ps China never was a Communist country. It is a Marxist-Leninist entity.
Janet
February 11th, 2021
Is it not plausible that the high strength flu vaccination has kept the sick and elderly alive for an extra season there for creating a population over weighted with vulnerable people, ripe to die in a bad flu season….
If this is not plausible what the hell is the point of the flu vaccination in the first place.
Christine Kincaid
April 4th, 2020
Yes but will they? I have been looking for vaccine uptake rates (vs countries with a ‘program’) for exactly this reason. Glad to know I am not the only one.
christine kincaid
April 6th, 2020
Surely it is not escaping anybody that the 5 countries with the lowest vaccine uptake rates have some of the lowest COVID death rates in the world?
Wake up! This needs to be known before anyone else gets a flu shot. Isn’t it better to sacrifice immunization policy & program than to pander to COVID?
OMG … some of those bottom 5 countries have tested twice as many people as the US has & their death rates are 1/100th of ours!
Gary Finnegan
April 7th, 2020
Those that roll out testing fastest and widest find the highest number of cases.
For example, African countries appear to have low number of cases. This is highly unlikely, unfortunately.
Gareth Powell
April 8th, 2020
Iran is probably biggest uptaker of flu vaccinations in Middle East, which would explain their high position on the infection/ death rate tables.?
Difficult to believe these tables/facts, are being ignored on the theory that cases in Africa, India, Pakistan etc, are not being fully reported.
Conclusion, see Jeremiah 5:21
Hi
April 17th, 2020
At least it needs to be explored. There has been no mention of a possible link by medical experts and as far as I know has never been questioned. This alone worries me! Surely patient data is analysed to determine whether the patient was administered an influenza vaccine especially the adjuvanted trivalent vaccine. It could explain the awful situation in care homes where the residents have , no doubt , been administered the trivalent vaccine. What about all those working in our hospitals – surely they have all received influenza vaccine!! If this theory proved correct imagine the repercussions! Perhaps the Chinese knew of this lethal cocktail of Covid-19 and the adjuvanted vaccine and stopped giving this strain of vaccine – hence the low death toll and sudden return to normality!!!
Gareth Powell
April 15th, 2020
Sincerely hope the indicators are wrong, Southern Hemispheres beginning flu vaccination this month.
Let’s hope their low rates continue through July and August.
Ray Eade
April 17th, 2020
At least it needs to be explored. There has been no mention of a possible link by medical experts and as far as I know has never been questioned. This alone worries me! Surely patient data is analysed to determine whether the patient was administered an influenza vaccine especially the adjuvanted trivalent vaccine. It could explain the awful situation in care homes where the residents have , no doubt , been administered the trivalent vaccine. What about all those working in our hospitals – surely they have all received influenza vaccine!! If this theory proved correct imagine the repercussions! Perhaps the Chinese knew of this lethal cocktail of Covid-19 and the adjuvanted vaccine and stopped giving this strain of vaccine – hence the low death toll and sudden return to normality!!!
Alex Biss
April 23rd, 2020
@Gary Finnegan
Re: “Those that roll out testing fastest and widest find the highest number of cases.”
1. If you look at the death rate in absolute numbers per 1 million of population (rather than as a proportion of identified cases) then the relationship between the influenza vaccination rate and Covid-19 deaths still holds for Europe. See Chart (updated 20 April) – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eej1HVTXr8sW7ndLItackL3mNMI3MjWu/view?usp=sharing
2. A mechanism by which a flu jab could cause a bad reaction to Covid-19 infection has been discussed in the medical community – it’s not that fantastic (see New Scientist article https://www.newscientist.com/article/2237259-why-dont-children-seem-to-get-very-ill-from-the-coronavirus/).
The link between the influenza vaccination and Covid-19 patient outcome is something that needs urgent investigation. Maybe there’s nothing in it – it could be pure coincidence explained away by a number of complicating factors – but it needs to be looked at. Could it even be a trivalent/quadrivalent issue as Sean McMahon suggests? https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340182781_Consider_Influenza_Vaccine_Type_in_Patients_infected_with_COVID-19?channel=doi&linkId=5e7cabfca6fdcc139c04d069&showFulltext=true
@Gary Finnegan – do you know of any papers that have already investigated the possibility of a connection? Or are you aware of any facts that fundamentally undermine the argument? It would be good to have this the notion proved wrong and put-to-bed. I know many people who have the flu vaccine each year and it would be useful information for them as well as those who have already had the vaccine this season and who may need to shield themselves more carefully.
Bob Mortimer
May 17th, 2020
Hi Alex – have you updated your chart with the latest data re reported death rates up to 15 May? The correlation between over 65s flu vaccination rates and Covid mortality in EU countries might be much stronger now.
Alex Biss
April 27th, 2020
Having done some quick stats, I think I’ve changed my mind re any link between the influenza vaccine and Covid-19 patient outcomes. Whilst vaccination rate vs deaths per million appears a strong relationship at first glance (r = 0.59, p = 0.001), I’ve Iooked at alternative models that could explain the variation equally as well or better.
For example, a multiple regression model that takes into account (for each European country), i) the date a coronavirus case was first reported and ii) the living density (see https://www.citymetric.com/fabric/these-maps-reveal-truth-about-population-density-across-europe-3625) explains about 60% of deaths and is highly significant (p = 0.000). Adding the vaccination rate increases the model’s explanatory power by only 4 percent and vaccination rates then become an insignificant variable (p = 0.115).
See https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ynG7pqA9B7Mz7mjcwK-Lp1pA-oWc13B6/view?usp=sharing
Gary Finnegan
April 27th, 2020
Thanks for taking the time to do this Alex.
Ray Eade
April 29th, 2020
Alex you are being driven by hard statistics and missing the point. Rather than flu vaccine in general it is the adjuvanted trivalent vaccine administered to the over 65s and those with underlying health conditions which appears to be resulting in poor outcomes in Civic 19 patients. This would explain the situation in care/ nursing homes. I have yet to see any research that disproves the link between civic 19 and the adjuvanted trivalent vaccine.
I also note that Gary Finnegan is quick to respond when a post agrees with his views but but can be quite dismissive/ condescending when others suggest something he is clearly uncomfortable with e.g . a link between Covid-19 and the flu jab!!
Liz Moss
April 29th, 2020
I came to this because my husband showed me, weeks ago, a US Military report that concluded the flu vaccine was indicated in higher incidents of coronavirus. I didn’t pay much attention at the time.
My attention was more diverted by what would happen in the developing world when C19 reached them. High population densities, much lower per capita hospital beds. Scary.
Yet, luckily, it hasn’t happened that the death rates have reached that of European countries. I don’t think it can be explained by the fact they introduced social distancing earlier. There has to be something else influencing the death rates.
A further web search found an article in the BMI that studied the effect of the flu vaccine on children. More susceptible to respiratory viruses.
Gary Finnegan
April 30th, 2020
Hi Liz,
Could you add links to the two papers you refer to please?
Gary Finnegan
April 30th, 2020
Hi Ray,
I hadn’t intended to be dismissive to anyone. Perhaps I was a bit exasperated with one of the early posts (not yours) which appeared to celebrate what the poster perceived as bad news about vaccines.
Could you elaborate on your specific point about the trivalent vaccine for over 65s with underlying health conditions? If possible, please point us towards a relevant paper/source.
Ray Eade
April 30th, 2020
Hi Gary. With regards the link between Covid-19 and the adjuvanted trivalent vaccine can I refer you back to the link that Derek posted on 10 the April. Sean Mc Manon in his report quotes an article written by Wendy Barclay from the Imperial College of Medicine, London. In addition he adds a link which suggests the adjuvanted trivalent vaccine is potentially eliciting a viral mismatch condition which is worsening he condition of the Covid-19 patients. As far as I know the adjuvanted trivalent vaccine is the chosen vaccine for the over 65s in the UK. It just seems logical that there is a link here that cannot be overlooked. Although Sean’s report was written over a month ago the stats are suggesting that he was right. I was hoping that you could point out some relevant paper/ sources that prove the theory wrong. The links you put forward to Liz are only suggesting that the flu vaccine is not causing Covid19. No one is suggesting that this is the case.
The only countries experiencing high death rates are those who have adopted the adjuvanted trivalent vaccine. Germany have a very low death rate but Sean Mc Mahon suggests this could be because they have adopted the Quadrivalent vaccine. Our medical experts have NEVER been questioned with this theory. It’s so important to the present situation I cannot understand why it has not been considered. ( Or are we not supposed to know!!!).
Liz Moss
April 29th, 2020
* BMJ*
Liz Moss
April 29th, 2020
Hmm now just seen this on Reuters ‘ False claim: The flu vaccine causes the new coronavirus’
pedantic wording
I don’t think anyone would think the flu vaccine CAUSES C19.
It’s about it’s effect on the immune system when infected with C19
Gary Finnegan
April 30th, 2020
Are the fact-check articles you were talking about?
https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-flu-vaccine-causes-new-coro/false-claim-the-flu-vaccine-causes-the-new-coronavirus-idUSKCN21X2LT
This one mentions a military paper – possibly the one you referred to? https://www.factcheck.org/2020/04/no-evidence-that-flu-shot-increases-risk-of-covid-19/
Gary Finnegan
April 30th, 2020
Also this https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2020/04/01/fact-check-flu-shot-coronavirus-not-connected-medical-experts-say/2933900001/
Liz Moss
April 30th, 2020
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31607599
Ok, I’m not remotely scientifically trained, just concerned the difference between national death rates can’t only be attributed to social distancing, contact tracing.
“Receipt of influenza vaccination was not associated with virus interference among our population. Examining virus interference by specific respiratory viruses showed mixed results. Vaccine derived virus interference was significantly associated with coronavirus and human metapneumovirus; however, significant protection with vaccination was associated not only with most influenza viruses, but also parainfluenza, RSV, and non-influenza virus coinfections.”
This is the bit that worries me ‘Vaccine derived virus interference was significantly associated with coronavirus and human metapneumovirus’
I actually hope this is not the case as the repercussions could be worse. People not getting their children vaccinated against mumps, measles and rubella etc
Liz Moss
May 1st, 2020
This one mentions a military paper – possibly the one you referred to? https://www.factcheck.org/2020/04/no-evidence-that-flu-shot-increases-risk-of-covid-19/
Just read this one. I do read this as a ‘please still get your flu vaccine’ advert because of the possible repercussions I mentioned before which I worry about.
I still think the virus interference needs more investigation not dismissing.
Ray Eade
May 1st, 2020
Liz. Look back at the link to Sean Mc Mahon’s theory in Derek’s post on 10th April. Read the full report, especially where it supports the viral interference. Although Sean’s report was written a month ago the current stats are backing him up 100%. There is a huge cover up here believe me !!😨
Gary Finnegan
May 1st, 2020
Another fact-checking site put some of the theories shared here to researchers. Might be of interest to some https://healthfeedback.org/claimreview/claim-that-flu-vaccine-increases-coronavirus-infection-is-unsupported-misinterprets-scientific-studies/
However, it will surely take more time and data to learn all we need to know about this new coronavirus and how/why it affects some people more than others (e.g. older people but not younger people) and why outcomes are better in Germany than the UK, for example.
Peter Morron
May 1st, 2020
Poland have a significantly low death rate from Covid-19 and here is a reference stating that only 3% of Poles get the flu jab
https://www.vaccinestoday.eu/stories/from-poland-to-scotland-vaccine-myths-cross-borders/
Ukraine are in a similar boat, not even hit 300 deaths yet, and look to be even less vaccinated than Poland
http://journal-ene.gr/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/status-vaccination-against-influenza.pdf
Czech Repuplic same. 240 deaths
https://news.expats.cz/weekly-czech-news/flu-season-is-coming-to-prague-and-its-not-too-late-to-get-vaccinated/
Dr Judy Mikovits has some interesting info on YouT*be
Liz Moss
May 2nd, 2020
So this mentions the study into children I mentioned.
I still see nothing that disproves the link.
Only research that doesn’t support the link based on coronavirus research prior to C19
But we are now post C19 and it is a game changer in coronavirus infections unfortunately
Ray Eade
May 3rd, 2020
Where have all our posts gone – have we got a nerve???
Ray Eade
May 3rd, 2020
hit a nerve even!
Gary Finnegan
May 4th, 2020
Hi Ray, are some of your comments disappearing?
Nothing has been removed as far as I can see. Let me know and I can ask someone to look into it.
Gary Finnegan
May 4th, 2020
Hi Liz, the study you mentioned is also from before C19. My reading of that ‘fact check’ article was that it was attempting to address the paper that looked back at 2017-2018 data.
I agree that we are in a new situation now with a new virus and there is a lot we cannot know yet.
Liz Moss
May 7th, 2020
Yes, that is why I am saying this needs looking into. Previous studies showing a virus interference are worrying . We need to know if this is happening.
You cannot say it’s not happening based on previous studies. I cannot say it is happening based on previous studies.
I presume flu vaccine status, prescribed medication etc are all being looked at as risk factors for severe immune system response to covid 19
and this is the crux for me. It would seem some countries populations experience more cases of C19 that need ICU treatment that lead to death than others. And it is the bodies own response that is causing organ failure. So what is causing that? Is it really just ‘your in an at risk category’?
We need to know why some countries death rates are much higher. Is it really only attributed to social distancing?
Janet
May 5th, 2020
Early on when Italy and Spain were losing thousands to coronavirus, experts told us it was because of their elderly population, but now I’m watching mexico, a developing country with a low life expectancy, but a surprisingly high uptake of quadrivent lose almost the same amount of people.
Why would mexico be losing so many people, when their population is so young?
Alex Biss
May 8th, 2020
Just going back to a point raised by Ray a while back: Doesn’t Belgium administer the quadrivalent vaccine to its over 65s yet Belgium has one of the worst death rates of all. I think Sean McMahon now recognises this fact.
Also, I think there is as much regional variation in the death rate as there is from country to country (looked at as a proportion of the over 65s who have died from Covid-19), and this suggests that national vaccination programmes are not to blame. Below is a link to a map that shows that the death rate is more likely linked to i) population density, ii )how long the region has had the coronavirus for and iii) its level of internationalism plus a load of other factors that are too numerous to mention (e.g. effectiveness of government policy).
For example, Portugal stands out for its low death rate (compared to Spain) and I think administers the quadrivalent to its over 65s, but looked at region-by-region it seems like part of a natural trend where the death rate declines with distance from the Madrid and Catalonia hot spots. Likewise, Brussels and Lombardy are other hot spots.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iPO2h-hq32kZ8ooGH3R4Wu2UowDJiKOz/view?usp=sharing
(Numbers underlined in green are country rates, numbers in black are highlighted regional rates. Data is a few days old, but I think the patterns still hold).
Janet
May 9th, 2020
Belgium does seem to be the exception, pity they’re guessing their coronavirus fatalities and not testing…is there another country like Belgium low quadrivent use, but high tested fatalities?
Craig
June 18th, 2020
Has anyone looked at Muslim countries with a high population.
As they do not take the vaccine
And from what I have seen there Covid-19 deaths are low
Alejandro Ipiña
June 27th, 2020
Hello, I write from Spain
The declaration of a pandemic was made on March 11, the confinement in Spain began on March 15,and the great mortality began after this declaration. 80% of deaths were over 75 years, with a particular incidence in nursing homes, but if we look at the case of Spain, what has perplexed me is the geographical distribution of mortality.
Three zones can be distinguished:
Those that have registered a normal or even lower mortality than normal for that time of year. The coastal provinces have behaved within normal parameters (except Barcelona), even some below what can be considered normal for this time of year, with negative percentages.
Almost 50% of the total spanish population has not been affected by Covid 19, not significantly
Those that have had a mortality above normal but not very far from the normal guideline.
And those that have had a “Covid peak” above what can be considered expected. Madrid, the two Castillas, and Catalonia (centered in Barcelona).
My main question is Why?
Why does this happen if the confinement has been the same throughout Spain?
And has the health and care system in the nursing homes been very similar?
Add one subject, in Castilla La Mancha the vaccine for people +65 is diferent that vaccine for same people in Andalucía. Castilla la Mancha registered the most high “covid peak” and in Andalucia almost nothing.
If you like I can apport more dates and vaccine names.
Frank
July 15th, 2020
In Europe they only push the flu shot on seniors. In the US and Canada they push it on everyone over 6 months old. Yet interestingly Europeans are not dying of the flu at any greater rate than Amercians.
Does the flu shot do anything for seniors either? This new 2020 study from one of the top journals says the shot does nothing for seniors, see under results here: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M19-3075
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September 17th, 2020
[…] 45% of all adults over the age of 18 in the US did so last season. Not a single EU country hit its 75% target coverage rate last season, and less than half of people eligible for the vaccine actually […]
sharon scherzer
October 18th, 2020
absolutely NO 2020-21 winter flu vaccine available all pharmacies, doctors offices in Lower Austria – area around Vienna – being kept secret on the media……..
Gary Finnegan
October 19th, 2020
Demand for flu vaccination is at an all-time high, largely because people want to reduce pressure on hospitals. Production has been increased as much as possible but is still too little to meet demand. Shortages are being reported everywhere. Some countries are now prioritising people in high-risk groups.
Janet
January 17th, 2021
17th of January and COVID infections and deaths are falling in countries all over the world, and have been since November, India, Belgium, Poland, Turkey.
And yet countries with the best flu vaccination programs continue to rise America, uk, Mexico, Spain.
Why is this ?
Janet
February 10th, 2021
It’s now the 10th of February and that trend, of falling rates of covid deaths and infections in countries without high strength flu vaccines continue to fall, and the countries with continue to rise or remain high.
Any explanation at all would be much appreciated