[Promoting influenza vaccination during 2021-2022 season from the perspective of population medicine].

ABSTRACT

The lower temperature in autumn-winter provides favorable conditions for the survival and spread of respiratory infectious diseases such as the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and influenza. It is likely that there will be a co-circulation of respiratory pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 and influenza. In order to promote the prevention and control of influenza and the application of influenza vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic in China, we separately discussed the risk of influenza epidemic in the 2021-2022 season, the influenza vaccination policies, and advocate influenza vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of population medicine. We appeal that COVID-19 vaccination cannot delay the normal delivery of other vaccines in the national immunization programs and non-Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) vaccines. Promoting influenza vaccination policies and improving immunization service convenience are necessary for increasing influenza vaccine coverage, protecting public health and assisting COVID-19 response.