In 2023, 47.1% of people over 65 in the European Union were vaccinated against the flu, representing a slight decrease compared to the 48.4% recorded the previous year. This trend raises concerns in the field of public health, as this age group is particularly vulnerable to complications that can arise from the disease.
Denmark stands out as the country with the highest vaccination rate, reaching 77.5%, followed by Ireland with 75.7% and Portugal with 71.8%. On the other hand, Poland, Slovakia, and Bulgaria present worrisome figures with very low vaccination rates: 9.6%, 11.7%, and 15.2% respectively. This contrast reveals significant differences in the implementation of vaccination programs and access to healthcare in the different Member States.
Despite the overall downward trend, Bulgaria has shown a significant improvement, increasing its vaccination rate by 46.2% compared to the previous year. This increase surpasses other countries like Lithuania, which saw an increase of 12.1%, and Poland, which had an increase of 11.6%. However, not all countries have had positive results: Cyprus, Sweden, and Estonia have faced the most significant declines, with decreases of 30.1%, 10.0%, and 9.5% respectively.
Throughout history, vaccination rates against the flu among older people in the EU have varied considerably. The highest rate was reached in 2009, at 52.4%, while the lowest was recorded in 2015 at 39.9%. Following a notable increase in 2021, which brought vaccination to 50.7%, the trend has shown a slight setback in the following years.
These data underscore the need to continue working on awareness and access to vaccination, especially in a context where the health of older generations is becoming increasingly prioritized, as they depend on these preventive measures to preserve their well-being and quality of life.
Referrer: MiMub in Spanish