Winter Respiratory Viruses in Europe

Each winter, Europe faces a predictable but preventable surge of respiratory viruses, including influenza, COVID-19, RSV, pneumococcal disease, and hMPV. Older adults and those with chronic health conditions remain the most at risk, with seasonal waves placing significant pressure on hospitals, workforces, and long-term care facilities.

In partnership with ESWI (the European Scientific Working Group on Influenza) and drawing on insights from their leading expert network, CLCI has released a new policy brief highlighting the urgent need for a more coordinated, life-course approach to respiratory virus prevention across the EU. The analysis shows that achieving ≥75% influenza vaccination coverage and ≥50% COVID-19 booster uptake among adults aged 65+ could prevent up to 250,000 hospitalisations and save €2–3 billion annually.

The brief calls for:

• A single, coordinated annual autumn vaccination campaign for influenza, COVID-19, RSV (for those 75+ and at-risk adults 60–74), and opportunistic pneumococcal vaccination.
• Stronger use of the European Health Data Space to enable real-time monitoring and coordinated response.
• Expanded access through pharmacies, long-term care in-reach, and mobile vaccination teams to close equity gaps.
• Clear, transparent communication supported by the ERVISS surveillance platform.

Together with ESWI and its expert community, CLCI is working to strengthen Europe’s winter resilience by embedding prevention into routine care, supporting Member States, and driving momentum behind a more equitable and aligned approach to adult and life-course immunisation.

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