BACKGROUND: People with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are at a higher risk of contracting vaccine-preventable diseases, such as influenza, with a higher likelihood of severity and complications. However, the immunization rates for the influenza vaccine among this population in the Czech Republic are very low. OBJECTIVE: This survey, among adults with NCDs in the Czech Republic, assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and gaps toward vaccination in general and influenza vaccination in particular. METHODS: The survey was conducted between February 2023 and March 2023 among patients with NCDs in the Czech Republic. A structured web-based questionnaire with open-ended questions was administered. This study is a preplanned subgroup ancillary analysis of a previous multicentric study conducted on 1106 patients. RESULTS: In all, 120 patients were enrolled, with 62% (74) aged between 41 and 60 years. Approximately 30% (36) had taken the influenza vaccine in the last 2 years and 70% (84) had not. Of the total sample, only 46% (55) had a positive opinion about influenza vaccines; this increased to 91% (33) among those vaccinated against the influenza virus. The main drivers of influenza vaccination were general physician (GP) recommendation [50% (18)] and patient initiative [47% (17)]. The main barriers to the influenza vaccine were lack of belief regarding its need [52% (44)], experience of mild severity of influenza [30% (25)], and lack of GP recommendation [25% (21)]. Physicians, dedicated websites, and family members are the most common sources of information regarding influenza. Even among those vaccinated for influenza, only 17% (6) had information about the risk of not taking the vaccine. A high level of dissatisfaction with the information was found among patients not vaccinated against influenza. People wanted more information on who should not receive the influenza vaccination. Unvaccinated patients sought information on side effects and efficacy. Only 40% (48) of the respondents said that they are likely/extremely likely to take an influenza vaccination in the future. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare practitioners are the key influencers for people to get vaccinated. The dissemination of information about the importance of influenza vaccines for people with NCDs needs to be increased in the Czech Republic.

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Respiratory viruses represent a significant public health threat. There is the need for robust and coordinated surveillance to guide global health responses. Established in 2012, the Global Influenza Hospital Surveillance Network (GIHSN) addresses this need by collecting clinical and virological data on persons with acute respiratory illnesses across a network of hospitals worldwide. GIHSN utilizes a standardized patient enrolment and data collection protocol across its study sites. It leverages pre-existing national infrastructures and expert collaborations to facilitate comprehensive data collection. This includes demographic, clinical, epidemiological, and virologic data, and whole genome sequencing (WGS) for a subset of viruses. Sequencing data are shared in the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID). GIHSN uses financing and governance approaches centered around public-private partnerships. Over time, GIHSN has included more than 100 hospitals across 27 countries and enrolled more than 168,000 hospitalized patients, identifying 27,562 cases of influenza and 44,629 of other respiratory viruses. GIHSN has expanded beyond influenza to include other respiratory viruses, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. In November 2023, GIHSN strengthened its global impact through a memorandum of understanding with the World Health Organization, aimed at enhancing collaborative efforts and data sharing for improved health responses. GIHSN exemplifies the value of integrating scientific research with public health initiatives through global collaboration and public-private partnerships governance. Future efforts should enhance the scalability of such models and ensure their sustainability through continued public and private support.

• Klíčová slova
• influenza, international, public–private partnerships, respiratory viruses, surveillance,
• MeSH
• celosvětové zdraví * MeSH
• chřipka lidská * epidemiologie   virologie   MeSH
• COVID-19 epidemiologie   MeSH
• epidemiologické monitorování MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nemocnice * MeSH
• sekvenování celého genomu MeSH
• veřejné zdravotnictví MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROUND: Influenza is a relatively serious infection that causes considerable morbidity and mortality. Epidemics of influenza are reported almost every year. METHODS: Based on the Czech national all-cause mortality and acute respiratory infection/influenza-like illness surveillance data for the 1999/2000 to 2019/2020 influenza seasons, excess deaths attributable to influenza were estimated using the threshold derived as 90th percentile of death counts during nonepidemic periods. Daily death counts broken by the 5-year age intervals were modelled via Poisson generalised additive model. RESULTS: The estimated total number of excess deaths from influenza during study period was 22,306. Thus, the mean total of excess deaths related to influenza per season was 1062 for the age group 40-94 years. The total number of excess deaths increased steadily with age from the 40-44 age group to the 85-89 age group, which accounted for the highest percentage of excess deaths (17%), followed closely by the 80-84 age group (16%). The age groups 40-44 years and 45-49 years contributed the least (3% each). More than three quarters of excess deaths occurred at age 65 and over (17,027 cases; 76%). Relative numbers of excess deaths per 100,000 population peaked in the oldest age groups of 85-89 and 90-94 years. CONCLUSIONS: We estimate that at least 0.98% of all-cause mortality throughout the study period was attributable to influenza in the Czech Republic. This excess is not negligible, and public health actions in the field of influenza prevention are vitally needed.

• Klíčová slova
• excess mortality, influenza, morbidity, mortality,
• MeSH
• chřipka lidská * mortalita   epidemiologie   MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• roční období * MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika epidemiologie   MeSH

Categorization systems for tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) infection lack consistency in classifying disease severity. To evaluate the need for a standard, consensus-based categorisation system for TBEV infection across subtypes, we gathered an expert panel of clinicians and scientists with diverse expertise in TBEV infection. Consensus was sought using the Delphi technique, which consisted of 2 web-based survey questionnaires and a final, virtual, consensus-building exercise. Ten panellists representing 8 European countries participated in the Delphi exercise, with specialities in neurology, infectious disease, paediatrics, immunology, virology, and epidemiology. Panellists reached unanimous consensus on the need for a standardised, international categorisation system to capture both clinical presentation and severity of TBEV infection. Ideally, such a system should be feasible for use at bedside, be clear and easy to understand, and capture both the acute and follow-up phases of TBEV infection. Areas requiring further discussion were (1) the timepoints at which assessments should be made and (2) whether there should be a separate system for children. This Delphi panel study found that a critical gap persists in the absence of a feasible and practical classification system for TBEV infection. Specifically, the findings of our Delphi exercise highlight the need for the development of a user-friendly classification system that captures the acute and follow-up (i.e., outcome) phases of TBEV infection and optimally reflects both clinical presentation and severity. Development of a clinical categorisation system will enhance patient care and foster comparability among studies, thereby supporting treatment development, refining vaccine strategies, and fortifying public health surveillance.

• Klíčová slova
• Categorisation, Delphi panel, Disease severity, Tick-borne encephalitis,
• MeSH
• delfská metoda MeSH
• klíšťová encefalitida * klasifikace   virologie   diagnóza   patologie   MeSH
• konsensus MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• viry klíšťové encefalitidy * fyziologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH

INTRODUCTION: Mumps data were analysed to assess the effect of vaccination on mumps complications and hospitalisation. METHODS: The mumps cases reported to the Czech nationwide surveillance system from 2013 to 2022 were analysed using logistic regression with an odds ratio (aOR) adjusted for age, sex, year of onset and administrative region to measure the association between vaccination and complications or hospitalisation. Adjusted vaccine effectiveness (aVE) was calculated: aVE=(1-aOR)x100. RESULTS: A total of 11,913 mumps cases were reported, of which 6,885 (58%) were male. The median age of the study participants was 16 (range: 0-89 years). No complications occurred in 91% of patients. Mumps orchitis occurred in 633 (9%) male cases. A total of 946 (8%) patients required hospitalisation. The highest proportion of complications and hospitalisations was in the age group 35-44 years. Two doses of vaccine reduced statistically significantly the risk of any complications and of hospitalisation compared with unvaccinated patients: aOR 0.48 (95% CI: 0.37, 0.62), aVE of 52% (95% CI: 38, 63); and aOR 0.43 (95% CI: 0.33, 0.56), aVE of 57% (95% CI: 44, 67), respectively. Two doses showed statistically significant aVE 50% (95% CI: 32, 64) against orchitis, and 59% (95% CI: 23, 79) against meningitis. Among the two-dose recipients, the proportion of complications increased gradually with the time from the second dose. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrated a protective effect of two-dose vaccination against mumps complications and hospitalisation for mumps. We recommend continuing routine childhood mumps vaccination and maintaining high MMR coverage in Czechia.

UVOD: Analizirali smo podatke o mumpsu, da bi ocenili učinek cepljenja na zaplete in hospitalizacijo zaradi mumpsa. METODE: Primere mumpsa, ki so bili v obdobju 2013–2022 prijavljeni v državni sistem nadzora na Češkem, smo analizirali z logistično regresijo z razmerjem obetov (aOR), prilagojeno glede na starost, spol, leto začetka in upravno regijo, da bi ugotovili povezavo med cepljenjem in zapleti ali hospitalizacijo. Izračunali smo prilagojeno učinkovitost cepiva (aVE): aVE = (1 – aOR) x 100. REZULTATI: Skupaj je bilo prijavljenih 11.913 primerov mumpsa, od tega 6885 (58 %) pri moških. Povprečna starost udeležencev v študiji je bila 16 let (razpon: 0–89 let). Pri 91 % bolnikov ni prišlo do zapletov. Mumps orhitis se je pojavil pri 633 (9 %) moških. Skupaj je 946 (8 %) bolnikov potrebovalo hospitalizacijo. Največji delež zapletov in hospitalizacij je bil v starostni skupini 35–44 let. Dva odmerka cepiva sta statistično pomembno zmanjšala tveganje za nastanek morebitnih zapletov in hospitalizacijo v primerjavi z necepljenimi bolniki: aOR 0,48 (95 % IZ: 0,37, 0,62), aVE 52 % (95 % IZ: 38, 63) in aOR 0,43 (95 % IZ: 0,33, 0,56), aVE 57 % (95 % IZ: 44, 67). Dva odmerka sta pokazala statistično pomembno aVE 50 % (95 % IZ: 32, 64) v primerjavi z orhitisom in 59 % (95 % IZ: 23, 79) v primerjavi z meningitisom. Delež zapletov med prejemniki dveh odmerkov se je postopoma povečeval s časom od drugega odmerka. ZAKLJUČKI: Naše ugotovitve so pokazale zaščitni učinek cepljenja proti zapletom in hospitalizaciji zaradi mumpsa. Priporočamo nadaljevanje rutinskega cepljenja otrok proti mumpsu in ohranjanje visoke stopnje precepljenosti s cepivom OMR na Češkem.

• Klíčová slova
• Hospitalisation, Mumps, Mumps complications, Orchitis, Vaccination, Vaccine effectiveness, cepljenje, hospitalizacija, mumps, učinkovitost cepljenja, zapleti,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROUND: By March, 2023, 54 countries, areas, and territories (hereafter CAT) in the WHO European Region had reported more than 2·2 million COVID-19-related deaths to the WHO Regional Office for Europe. Here, we estimated how many lives were directly saved by vaccinating adults in the WHO European Region from December, 2020, to March, 2023. METHODS: In this retrospective surveillance study, we estimated the number of lives directly saved by age group, vaccine dose, and circulating variant-of-concern (VOC) period, regionally and nationally, using weekly data on COVID-19 mortality and infection, COVID-19 vaccination uptake, and SARS-CoV-2 virus characterisations by lineage downloaded from The European Surveillance System on June 11, 2023, as well as vaccine effectiveness data from the literature. We included data for six age groups (25-49 years, 50-59 years, ≥60 years, 60-69 years, 70-79 years, and ≥80 years). To be included in the analysis, CAT needed to have reported both COVID-19 vaccination and mortality data for at least one of the four older age groups. Only CAT that reported weekly data for both COVID-19 vaccination and mortality by age group for 90% of study weeks or more in the full study period were included. We calculated the percentage reduction in the number of expected and reported deaths. FINDINGS: Between December, 2020, and March, 2023, in 34 of 54 CAT included in the analysis, COVID-19 vaccines reduced deaths by 59% overall (CAT range 17-82%), representing approximately 1·6 million lives saved (range 1·5-1·7 million) in those aged 25 years or older: 96% of lives saved were aged 60 years or older and 52% were aged 80 years or older; first boosters saved 51% of lives, and 60% were saved during the Omicron period. INTERPRETATION: 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. Further modelling work should evaluate indirect effects of vaccination and public health and social measures. FUNDING: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• MeSH
• COVID-19 * prevence a kontrola   mortalita   epidemiologie   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• očkovací programy statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 * imunologie   MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• Světová zdravotnická organizace MeSH
• vakcíny proti COVID-19 * aplikace a dávkování   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa epidemiologie   MeSH
• Názvy látek
• vakcíny proti COVID-19 * MeSH

Background: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is caused by the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). TBEV infection can cause symptoms of central nervous system (CNS) inflammation and result in severe consequences including death. TBE is an increasing health threat in the Czech Republic and elsewhere in Europe. In 2020, 23% of 3734 TBE cases reported to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control were from the Czech Republic. TBE vaccination is universally recommended in the Czech Republic, but a full analysis of TBE vaccine effectiveness (VE) in the Czech Republic has not been published. Methods: TBE is a notifiable disease in the Czech Republic with mandatory reporting of cases (i.e., laboratory-confirmed TBEV infected patient with symptoms of CNS inflammation) and vaccination history to public health authorities. TBE VE was estimated using the screening method utilizing public health surveillance data from 2018 to 2022 and online household surveys of the general population on TBE vaccine uptake conducted in 2019-2022. Results: In 2018-2022, 3648 TBE cases were reported in the Czech Republic; 98.1% (3105/3166) of TBE cases with known vaccination history were unvaccinated. Among 42,671 persons surveyed from the general population who had known TBE vaccination history, 66.5% were unvaccinated. VE against TBE was 97.6% (95% confidence interval 95.7-98.7). When stratified by age group, VE was 97.1% (88.4-99.3) in 1-15 years of age, 97.9% (95.3-99.0) in 16-59 years of age, and 96.9% (90.5-99.0) in ≥60 years of age. TBE vaccination averted an estimated 1020 TBE cases in the Czech Republic from 2018 to 2022. Conclusions: This first published study with a full analysis of TBE VE in the Czech Republic showed that vaccination was highly effective for the prevention of TBE including in children, an age group with increasing TBE disease burden. Vaccination averted hundreds of TBE cases and hospitalizations despite the relatively low compliance with TBE vaccine recommendations. To prevent additional TBE cases in the Czech Republic, enhanced efforts to increase TBE vaccine uptake are needed.

• Klíčová slova
• epidemiology, prevention, surveillance, vector-borne disease,
• MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• klíšťová encefalitida * prevence a kontrola   epidemiologie   MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• vakcinace * MeSH
• virové vakcíny * aplikace a dávkování   MeSH
• viry klíšťové encefalitidy * imunologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika epidemiologie   MeSH
• Názvy látek
• virové vakcíny * MeSH

High quality research is critical for evidence-based decision making in public health and fundamental to maintain progress and trust in immunization programs in Europe. In 2024 the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) conducted an update of the 2020 systematic review to capture more recent evidence on of the efficacy, effectiveness of influenza vaccines in individuals aged 18 years and older in the prevention of laboratory-confirmed influenza. While this report was highly anticipated due to the strength of the protocol and processes put in place, during our assessment, we expressed two chief concerns. We are concerned by the grading of the evidence certainty applied and being unable to reproduce some data extracted in the report from the primary sources. While the systematic review benefited of strong methods and processes, the execution of the research protocol warrants revision due to the issues discussed. We encourage the ECDC to work towards an updated review within a reasonable time frame to avoid misinterpretation by decision-making bodies across Europe.

• Klíčová slova
• Influenza, effectiveness, influenza hospitalization, laboratory-confirmed influenza, vaccines,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

INTRODUCTION: The Raise Awareness of Influenza Strategies in Europe (RAISE) group gathered information about the healthcare burden of influenza (hospitalizations, intensive care unit [ICU] admissions, and excess deaths), surveillance systems, and the vaccine coverage rate (VCR) in older adults in 18 European countries and Israel. AREAS COVERED: Published medical literature and official medical documentation on the influenza disease burden in the participating countries were reviewed from 2010/11 until the 2022/23 influenza seasons. Information on the framework for monitoring the disease burden and the provision for ensuring older adults had access to vaccination in their respective countries was provided. Data on influenza VCR in older adults were collected for the 2019/20 to 2022/23 influenza seasons. Data are reported descriptively. EXPERT OPINION: Influenza presents a significant healthcare burden in older adults. Reporting outcomes across participating countries is heterogeneous, highlighting the need for standardized approaches. Although older adults receive free influenza vaccination, vaccine uptake is highly variable among countries. Moreover, hospitalization rates remain high even in countries reporting a high VCR. Increased awareness and education on the burden of disease and the broader use of improved influenza vaccines for older adults may help reduce the disease burden on this population.

• Klíčová slova
• Influenza, Influenza surveillance, burden of disease, older adults, vaccine coverage rate,
• MeSH
• chřipka lidská * prevence a kontrola   epidemiologie   MeSH
• COVID-19 * prevence a kontrola   epidemiologie   MeSH
• hospitalizace * statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• pokrytí očkováním * statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• vakcíny proti chřipce * aplikace a dávkování   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa epidemiologie   MeSH
• Izrael epidemiologie   MeSH
• Názvy látek
• vakcíny proti chřipce * MeSH

BACKGROUND: The Global Influenza Hospital Surveillance Network (GIHSN) has since 2012 provided patient-level data on severe influenza-like-illnesses from >100 participating clinical sites worldwide based on a core protocol and consistent case definitions. METHODS: We used multivariable logistic regression to assess the risk of intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, and in-hospital death among hospitalized patients with influenza and explored the role of patient-level covariates and country income level. RESULTS: The data set included 73 121 patients hospitalized with respiratory illness in 22 countries, including 15 660 with laboratory-confirmed influenza. After adjusting for patient-level covariates we found a 7-fold increase in the risk of influenza-related intensive care unit admission in lower middle-income countries (LMICs), compared with high-income countries (P = .01). The risk of mechanical ventilation and in-hospital death also increased by 4-fold in LMICs, though these differences were not statistically significant. We also find that influenza mortality increased significantly with older age and number of comorbid conditions. Across all severity outcomes studied and after controlling for patient characteristics, infection with influenza A/H1N1pdm09 was more severe than with A/H3N2. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides new information on influenza severity in underresourced populations, particularly those in LMICs.

• Klíčová slova
• disease severity, global health, influenza epidemiology, lower middle-income countries, surveillance,
• MeSH
• chřipka lidská * epidemiologie   MeSH
• hospitalizace MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mortalita v nemocnicích MeSH
• nemocnice MeSH
• virus chřipky A, podtyp H3N2 MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH