The EU executive wants to prevent the risk of hospitals being again
overwhelmed by a surge of patients, as happened at the peak of the
COVID-19 pandemic in Europe in March and April.
"Simultaneous outbreaks of seasonal influenza and COVID-19, would
place a considerable strain on health systems," it said in a
document which lists actions needed to prepare for a possible large
second wave of COVID-19 in the autumn.
It called on EU governments to bring forward flu vaccinations to the
summer. People in Europe usually get their annual flu shots in the
autumn.
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Brussels also urged states this year to buy more shots against influenza and
increase the number of people who are vaccinated.
It also called on states to test more people for coronavirus infections and set
up efficient contact tracing systems.
The Commission wants governments to use contact tracing apps which are
interoperable across EU borders. But at this stage only ten of the 27 EU states
have launched such applications.
(Reporting by Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio; editing by Kate Abnett)
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