Disappointing data regarding the vaccination of the elderly, vulnerable individuals, and healthcare workers against COVID-19 shows that over 90% of 80-year-olds in Greece are unprotected against the pandemic virus, while only 4% of healthcare workers have received the vaccine. Recent data published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) underscore the need to strengthen vaccination campaigns in anticipation of winter and the surge in respiratory infections.

According to the ECDC data, from September 2023 to July 2024, only 7.1% of individuals aged 60-69 in Greece received the COVID-19 vaccine.

The vaccination rate slightly increases for the next decade, specifically for those aged 70-79, reaching 11.7%.

However, it drops for those over 80 years old, with only 8.9% vaccinated, a particularly vulnerable age group to severe illness from COVID-19 and complications.

Vaccination coverage for healthcare workers is impressively low at just 4.4%, also a high-risk group for which there is a strong recommendation for booster doses.

These figures place our country in a much worse position compared to other European nations. For instance, in Denmark, 88.6% of citizens over 80 years old are vaccinated, in Ireland 80.3%, in Belgium 64.6%, and in Spain 64.4%.

As highlighted by the ECDC in light of the two reports published yesterday, vaccination coverage against both COVID-19 and seasonal flu was not optimal for at-risk groups, such as the elderly, in many countries of the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) during the 2023-2024 period.

Specifically, vaccination coverage against seasonal flu for individuals aged 65 and older during the 2023-2024 period showed significant fluctuations among countries, ranging from 12% to 78% for the majority of them. Correspondingly, vaccination rates against COVID-19 between September 2023 and July 2024 vary even more, from 0.02% to 66.1%, with the median coverage among individuals over 60 years old being only 14%.

“Vaccination is one of the most effective measures we have to protect the most vulnerable in society from severe illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths,” said Pamela Rendi-Wagner, director of the ECDC, adding: “It is essential to increase vaccination coverage as we enter the winter season.”

Simultaneous circulation of viruses

European countries are trying to boost vaccination uptake. With the upcoming winter season, simultaneous circulation of seasonal flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), SARS-CoV-2, and other respiratory viruses is expected, placing significant pressure on healthcare systems and disproportionately affecting individuals in high-risk groups, namely the elderly and those with weakened immune systems and underlying health conditions.

As described by a British report, last winter, the vaccination rate for individuals over 65 in the UK who chose to get the flu vaccine decreased from 79.9% to 77.8%. The situation was even worse among eligible groups. Only 44% of young children (two and three years old) were vaccinated, and less than one-third of pregnant women. Among those in clinical risk groups—such as those with asthma or heart disease—the vaccination coverage was only 41%.

The ECDC emphasizes that in addition to vaccination, it is important to take basic preventive measures to reduce virus transmission. These include staying home if respiratory symptoms are present, frequent and thorough handwashing, ventilating indoor spaces, wearing masks if symptoms occur, and when in crowded places or in contact with vulnerable individuals.