The question of flu vaccination for healthcare professionals is an urgent and highly relevant one. After all, the devastating impact of flu is widely recognized, and flu vaccines are estimated to prevent thousands of admissions and millions of illnesses with current usage. At risk groups are well defined. Health care professionals work with the patients at risk on a daily basis. Annual vaccination is widely recommended to reduce the risk of healthcare acquired influenza. Why then is it so difficult to achieve influenza vaccine uptake levels in healthcare workers that would reduce or eliminate the risk of transmitting the disease?

In the 2019 Science Policy Influenza Summit, ESWI attempted to answer that question in close collaboration with its partner organizations. ESWI brought together influenza stakeholders for a day of presentations and discussions. The event was available via live stream video and reached almost 350 viewers worldwide.