The representatives of the EU Member States in the Health Security Committee and in the Early Warning and Response System, with the scientific support of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the European Medicines Agency, have discussed a shared approach on target and priority groups for vaccination against Influenza A(H1N1). As a result, they adopted on August 25th a policy statement proposed by the European Commission which outlines a shared European approach towards identifying target and priority groups for vaccination.

The statement adopted by the European Union Health Security Committee is a reflection of the views of Member State representatives on what would constitute a shared approach towards identifying priority groups for vaccination, based on the proposal made by the European Commission. This approach is based on the epidemiological, clinical and pharmaceutical evidence currently available, and therefore, may need to be changed as additional evidence becomes available, and as the pandemic progresses, a pandemic which now affects more than 20,000 Europeans.

On the basis of current scientific evidence and taking into account guidance by the European Centre for Disease Control and the World Health Organisation, the HSC/EWRS statement recommends the following groups as constituting the first priority groups for A H1N1 vaccination:

• All persons from 6 months old with underlying chronic conditions (e.g. Chronic respiratory diseases; chronic cardiovascular diseases and persons with congenital or acquired immunodeficiency) starting with those with most severe symptoms
• Pregnant women
• Health care workers

Once these first priority groups have been vaccinated, the vaccination proceeds until the national targets have been met. It is important to note that target and priority groups would be subject to close and continuing review especially according to the proportions of groups that are appearing in the health care system.

Member State representatives have considered that there is an added value in having a shared approach towards identifying target and priority groups for vaccination of people who are at higher risk of influenza A(H1N1) 2009 infection and/or severe disease resulting from such infection. In addition, according with the WHO recommendation, there is a consensus that healthcare workers should be immunised, both to protect the essential health infrastructure and individual patients.

The statement stresses that it is the responsibility and mandate of each Member State to develop a vaccination strategy for Influenza A H1N1. Each country identifies national target groups which are defined as all those population groups where A H1N1 vaccination is recommended. In some cases, this may be the entire population and in other cases only specific groups. However, it is unlikely that the vaccine will be immediately available for all target groups at the same time and therefore, it is necessary to define priority groups.