Disparities in Seasonal Influenza Vaccination in Europe
ABSTRACT Background Seasonal influenza remains a major public health challenge in Europe, associated with high morbidity, mortality, and socioeconomic burden. Despite the proven efficacy and cost‐effectiveness of vaccination, coverage rates vary substantially across European countries and population...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Immunity, Inflammation and Disease |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/iid3.70186 |
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| author | Katinka M. Giezeman‐Smits Bram Palache Gerrit A. vanEssen Miloš Jeseňák Enrique Castro‐Sánchez Anna Elisabeth Steinberg Joris vanVugt |
| author_facet | Katinka M. Giezeman‐Smits Bram Palache Gerrit A. vanEssen Miloš Jeseňák Enrique Castro‐Sánchez Anna Elisabeth Steinberg Joris vanVugt |
| author_sort | Katinka M. Giezeman‐Smits |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Background Seasonal influenza remains a major public health challenge in Europe, associated with high morbidity, mortality, and socioeconomic burden. Despite the proven efficacy and cost‐effectiveness of vaccination, coverage rates vary substantially across European countries and population groups, often falling short of the World Health Organization's target of 75% for older adults. Objective This narrative review aims to identify and explore disparities in seasonal influenza vaccination coverage across European countries and among different population subgroups. It also seeks to examine the underlying causes of these disparities and propose actionable strategies to improve equity in vaccine uptake. Methods A literature search was conducted using the PubMed database for English‐language articles published within the last 5 years. Keywords included: comorbidity, disparity, Europe, inequality, influenza, knowledge, ethnic disparity, seasonal influenza vaccination, socioeconomic disparity, vaccination coverage, and vaccine hesitancy. Additional references were identified from the retrieved articles. Results Widespread disparities in influenza vaccination were observed across various demographic and professional groups. These included disparities by geographic location, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sex and gender, age, comorbidities, and occupation—particularly among healthcare professionals. Contributing factors included limited knowledge or education, negative attitudes or behaviors toward vaccination, vaccine hesitancy and fatigue, and restricted access to vaccination services. Structural barriers and institutional trust issues also played key roles. Conclusions Addressing disparities in influenza vaccination coverage in Europe requires multi‐level, stakeholder‐specific strategies. These should include education campaigns, improved access through alternative delivery settings (e.g., pharmacies, schools), targeted communication to high‐risk and underserved populations, and systemic changes to support healthcare providers. Tackling these issues will help reduce preventable morbidity and mortality, enhance herd immunity, and foster healthier ageing across European populations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8044e415db1148b38b6923b51b282610 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2050-4527 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Immunity, Inflammation and Disease |
| spelling | doaj-art-8044e415db1148b38b6923b51b2826102025-07-31T06:40:38ZengWileyImmunity, Inflammation and Disease2050-45272025-07-01137n/an/a10.1002/iid3.70186Disparities in Seasonal Influenza Vaccination in EuropeKatinka M. Giezeman‐Smits0Bram Palache1Gerrit A. vanEssen2Miloš Jeseňák3Enrique Castro‐Sánchez4Anna Elisabeth Steinberg5Joris vanVugt6Viatris Turmstrasse 24 Steinhausen SwitzerlandFluPal Consultancy B.V. Bourgondischelaan 33 Amstelveen the NetherlandsDutch Influenza Foundation Paladijnenweg 30 Amersfoort the NetherlandsComenius University in Bratislava, University Hospital in Martin SlovakiaBrunel University London, College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences Uxbridge UKViatris Benzstraße 1 Bad Homburg vor der Höhe GermanyViatris Krijgsman 20 Amstelveen the NetherlandsABSTRACT Background Seasonal influenza remains a major public health challenge in Europe, associated with high morbidity, mortality, and socioeconomic burden. Despite the proven efficacy and cost‐effectiveness of vaccination, coverage rates vary substantially across European countries and population groups, often falling short of the World Health Organization's target of 75% for older adults. Objective This narrative review aims to identify and explore disparities in seasonal influenza vaccination coverage across European countries and among different population subgroups. It also seeks to examine the underlying causes of these disparities and propose actionable strategies to improve equity in vaccine uptake. Methods A literature search was conducted using the PubMed database for English‐language articles published within the last 5 years. Keywords included: comorbidity, disparity, Europe, inequality, influenza, knowledge, ethnic disparity, seasonal influenza vaccination, socioeconomic disparity, vaccination coverage, and vaccine hesitancy. Additional references were identified from the retrieved articles. Results Widespread disparities in influenza vaccination were observed across various demographic and professional groups. These included disparities by geographic location, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sex and gender, age, comorbidities, and occupation—particularly among healthcare professionals. Contributing factors included limited knowledge or education, negative attitudes or behaviors toward vaccination, vaccine hesitancy and fatigue, and restricted access to vaccination services. Structural barriers and institutional trust issues also played key roles. Conclusions Addressing disparities in influenza vaccination coverage in Europe requires multi‐level, stakeholder‐specific strategies. These should include education campaigns, improved access through alternative delivery settings (e.g., pharmacies, schools), targeted communication to high‐risk and underserved populations, and systemic changes to support healthcare providers. Tackling these issues will help reduce preventable morbidity and mortality, enhance herd immunity, and foster healthier ageing across European populations.https://doi.org/10.1002/iid3.70186comorbidityethnic disparityinequalityinfluenzaseasonal influenza vaccinationvaccine access |
| spellingShingle | Katinka M. Giezeman‐Smits Bram Palache Gerrit A. vanEssen Miloš Jeseňák Enrique Castro‐Sánchez Anna Elisabeth Steinberg Joris vanVugt Disparities in Seasonal Influenza Vaccination in Europe Immunity, Inflammation and Disease comorbidity ethnic disparity inequality influenza seasonal influenza vaccination vaccine access |
| title | Disparities in Seasonal Influenza Vaccination in Europe |
| title_full | Disparities in Seasonal Influenza Vaccination in Europe |
| title_fullStr | Disparities in Seasonal Influenza Vaccination in Europe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Disparities in Seasonal Influenza Vaccination in Europe |
| title_short | Disparities in Seasonal Influenza Vaccination in Europe |
| title_sort | disparities in seasonal influenza vaccination in europe |
| topic | comorbidity ethnic disparity inequality influenza seasonal influenza vaccination vaccine access |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/iid3.70186 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT katinkamgiezemansmits disparitiesinseasonalinfluenzavaccinationineurope AT brampalache disparitiesinseasonalinfluenzavaccinationineurope AT gerritavanessen disparitiesinseasonalinfluenzavaccinationineurope AT milosjesenak disparitiesinseasonalinfluenzavaccinationineurope AT enriquecastrosanchez disparitiesinseasonalinfluenzavaccinationineurope AT annaelisabethsteinberg disparitiesinseasonalinfluenzavaccinationineurope AT jorisvanvugt disparitiesinseasonalinfluenzavaccinationineurope |