The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has urged European Union countries to accelerate vaccination efforts because flu cases are emerging three to four weeks earlier and circulation is being driven by a new strain of influenza A (H3N2), subtype K.

Commenting on this ECDC alert to Lusa news agency, and providing an update on the epidemiological situation in Portugal, the Director-General of Health, Rita Sá Machado, said that an increase in cases is already being observed, considering some sentinel indicators in Portugal, such as the number of patients seeking emergency services for flu-like symptoms.

“We are already starting to see an increase, but not yet very rapidly, which means that our flu epidemic is also expected to start earlier, as we are also seeing in other European countries,” she stressed.

Regarding influenza vaccination, Rita Sá Machado stated that the vaccination rate this year is “very similar” to that observed in other seasons, with approximately two million people vaccinated since September 23.

However, she stressed that “it is still not enough” to have “good coverage” of those eligible for vaccination, warning that “the next two weeks are essential for vaccinating those who have not yet been vaccinated.”

The Director-General of Health explained that, from this time onwards, Portugal begins to experience an epidemic or “sees the indicators grow at a faster rate,” and the population needs to be protected.

“Faster pace”

“Therefore, vaccination in the next two weeks really needs to occur at an even faster pace than we have seen over the past few weeks,” she maintained.

Regarding the new strain of influenza A (H3N2 K), subtype K, the Director-General of Health clarified that this was not the predominant strain in the previous season or in the Southern Hemisphere, therefore this year's vaccine does not predominantly contain this strain, but stressed that the vaccine remains essential because it always provides some protection.

“Of course, it would be essential if we had exactly the strain that is circulating (…) but other strains will circulate and, therefore, it is very important for people to get vaccinated,” she maintained.

Rita Sá Machado emphasized that the protection provided by the vaccine is important to reduce complications from the disease and the overload on health services.

When questioned about occasional vaccine shortages, the official assured that there are no difficulties in accessing vaccination at local health units for the eligible population (those over 60 years of age, chronically ill patients, pregnant women, and children between six months and five years old).

She also noted that someone who wishes to be vaccinated but is not within the eligible population can be assessed by a doctor who can then prescribe a flu vaccine.

“There are 3,500 vaccination points throughout the country, and therefore vaccination is a great tool we have,” he said, also recommending good prevention practices that “already come from the pandemic,” such as handwashing, respiratory etiquette, and ventilation of spaces.

She also recommended the use of surgical masks for those with any type of symptomatology.

According to the ECDC, in a typical season, influenza causes substantial morbidity in the European population, with up to 50 million symptomatic cases and 15,000 to 70,000 deaths per year.

Portugal recorded 1,609 excess deaths during the influenza epidemic from December 2024 to January 2025, a period coinciding with the influenza epidemic and extreme temperatures, mainly affecting women and people over 85 years of age.