Vaccination

12.8.2020

Question for written answer E-004557/2020
to the Commission
Rule 138
Nicolás González Casares (S&D)

We now know that the beginning of community transmission of COVID-19 in Europe in January and February 2020 coincided with the yearly peak for seasonal flu. Members of the medical community agree that this may have masked the initial spread of COVID-19, which therefore went unnoticed.

Given that it is very likely that transmission of the current variants of both COVID-19 and seasonal flu could flare up at the same time once again, and bearing in mind that the effects of both illnesses are much more serious in older people:

• 1.Is the Commission considering calling for, or recommending, mass vaccination against seasonal flu to prevent epidemics of different viral illnesses from peaking at the same time? If so, is that recommendation going to be restricted to people over 65 and those with chronic health problems?
• 2.Is the Commission making efforts to ensure that sufficient supplies of flu vaccine are available for the 2020-2021 season?
• 3.What is the Commission’s view of the vaccine recently approved by Russia? Is the Commission looking into acquiring that vaccine?