Estimates of current mid-season flu vaccine effectiveness (VE) in Europe and China range from 32% to 58% overall, with greater protection against influenza B than A, according to three studies published in Eurosurveillance.

This could facilitate pooled analyses linking viral genetic sequencing data to clinical severity, bringing insights to inform influenza surveillance and the vaccine strain selection process.

WHO announced them at the meeting on the composition of Influenza Virus Vaccines. These gatherings are held twice a year, bringing together an advisory group of experts from WHO Collaborating Centres and WHO Essential Regulatory Laboratories.

A new joint action focusing on tackling chronic respiratory diseases was recently launched. Backed by the EU4Health programme, the 3-year initiative aims to improve lung health across Europe through innovative digital health technologies.

ECDC has launched an online platform, RespiCompass, which uses mathematical modelling to simulate respiratory disease dynamics under different scenarios.

Based on the current risk assessment, WHO advises against any travel or trade restrictions related to current trends in acute respiratory infections.

Over nearly 2.5 years, most lives saved by COVID-19 vaccination were in older adults by first booster dose and during the Omicron period, reinforcing the importance of up-to-date vaccination among the most at-risk individuals.

With promising developments in the field of respiratory viral infections, the conference sessions covered hot topics on seasonal, pandemic, and zoonotic influenza viruses, as well as other respiratory viruses such as RSV and SARS-CoV-2.