European experts emphasise key steps to address recent rise in COVID-19 cases and support autumn vaccination campaigns
24 July, 2024
In recent weeks there has been a marked increase of COVID-19 cases in Europe and the UK. According to the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) the median SARS-CoV-2 test positivity in EU primary care sentinel systems has increased to 11%. Pooled test positivity reached 29%, driven mainly by three countries reporting >20% sample positivity (ECDC). These data reveal that there is a current wave of COVID that is being detected at the regional level with an increase in the number of cases, as well as hospital admissions. For example, between 4 and 10 July in Italy, there was a 42% increase in new positive cases (Italian Ministry of Health). In France, the public health agency registered an increase of all epidemic monitoring indicators in June (Public Health France). Indicators remained stable in July, but with a slight increase of hospitalisations after visits for suspected COVID-19 between 10 and 17 July (Public Health France).
With European countries preparing to kick-off COVID-19 vaccination campaigns (along with influenza vaccination campaigns) from September and October onwards, the members of the COVID Transition Initiative (CTI) call on national governments and EU authorities to take all necessary actions to support optimal vaccination coverage – as recommended in our Transition Roadmap, ultimately aspiring to achieve a 75% uptake target among at-risk groups, as is set for influenza vaccination.
1. We call for national bodies to issue clear recommendations or guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible ahead of the start of campaigns. Regular COVID-19 vaccination campaigns should be driven by adapted strategies that target at-risk groups, including older people, residents in elderly care homes, people with co-morbidities or who are immunocompromised, carers, healthcare workers and pregnant women.
2. We call for regulators to work in partnership with vaccine suppliers to ensure the availability of all relevant vaccine products in time for the start of campaigns from September. Making multiple COVID-19 vaccine technologies available across Europe is essential to allow for innovation and prevent over-reliance on any single COVID-19 vaccine product, which can ensure that people and healthcare professionals have vaccine options best suited to their needs and preferences. Following recommendations from the European Medicines Agency to update vaccines to the JN.1 family strain, a timely review of JN.1 candidate applications is essential to allow all available vaccine technologies to be approved and accessible in September, in time for the seasonal COVID-19 campaign.
About the COVID Transition Initiative (CTI)
Convened and funded by Novavax, the CTI is an informal, independent, multi-stakeholder, pan-European group, made up of leading experts, patient advocates, and policymakers. The COVID Transition Roadmap, launched in May this year by the CTI, lays out 13 recommendations to help decision makers improve COVID-19 vaccination rates in Europe, which have slumped to just 12% on average among people aged 60 and older during the 2023/24 vaccination season.
More information: www.covid-transition.com
Contact: secretariat@covid-transition.com