Filenews 16 September 2025 - by Marilena Panayi
Influenza, coronavirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), pneumococcus and other viruses and infections just around the corner. At the European level, the European Centre for Infection Control is continuously monitoring the data on a weekly basis, while the competent national authorities have almost completed their preparation and are one step ahead of the official announcements for this year's vaccinations.
The Ministry of Health in Cyprus is waiting until September 30 for the first batch of flu vaccines, while vaccines against covid-19 have already started to be received and pneumococcal vaccines have started to be administered to eligible citizens.
However, last year's increased and prolonged activity of the respiratory syncytial virus, better known as RSV, which mainly affects young children and the elderly, leaves no room for complacency. For the time being, however, official information on the introduction of vaccines or the implementation of other preventive actions has not been made by the competent Authority, although as we are informed, actions have already been taken in this direction as well.
It is noted that the first cases of RSV appear every year a few weeks before the flu. In previous years (mainly before the pandemic), RSV receded after the appearance of the flu, however, in recent years and especially last year, this fact was overturned and the two viruses coexisted for a very long time.
In detail, the Ministry of Health has ordered a total of 155,000 flu vaccines for this year.115,000 doses (Vaxigrip) are intended for people of all ages and 40,000 (Influerada) for the elderly. The first batch of vaccines is expected to arrive in Cyprus in fifteen days and will involve 40,000 doses of Influerada and 60,000 doses of Vaxigrip.
As far as the coronavirus vaccine is concerned, a total of 120,960 doses have been ordered this year for people over 12 years old, 8,640 doses for children 5 to 11 years old and 4,320 doses for children up to 4 years old. For people over 12 years old, 11,520 doses have already arrived in Cyprus and another 43,200 are expected at the end of September, when it is expected that 2,880 doses for children 5-11 years old and 1,440 doses for children up to 4 years old will arrive in Cyprus. The remaining instalments will be imported into Cyprus on a weekly basis throughout the next period.
The pneumococcal vaccines are already in Cyprus and several have been administered to eligible citizens, while the stocks are considered sufficient to meet this year's needs.
Regarding epidemiological surveillance in its last weekly report (September 12), the ECDC refers to a decreased, for the time being, activity of influenza and RSV, noting, however, that the increasing trend that began to be recorded in the middle of the summer in Covid-19 cases seems to continue, but has not significantly affected, so far, the number of admissions of serious cases to hospitals.
In particular, confirmed cases and hospital admissions remain at stable levels both in terms of influenza and other acute respiratory infections.
An increasing trend is recorded at the European level in SARS-CoV-2 cases in several countries. Specifically, test positivity in primary care reached 22.3%. However, despite the increase in cases, hospitalizations and deaths remain at relatively low levels.
As pointed out in the ECDC report, the increasing trend in cases concerns all age groups and in some states, cases seem to be recorded in young children up to 4 years old. Flu activity remained low last week as well, according to data from the European Center. Positivity rates ranged from 2.1% in primary care and 3.2% in hospital samples.
Of course, the ECDC notes, in its report, that the picture is difficult to fully capture, as fewer countries now report data and the number of tests is limited compared to winter. However, it warns that the population's immunity against SARS-CoV-2 may have declined and that increases in cases may lead to more hospitalizations, elderly and vulnerable patients in the coming months. Finally, the ECDC emphasizes that the surveillance of respiratory viruses must continue throughout the year and recommends vaccination as the most effective measure of protection.
