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Abstract

The European 2025/26 influenza season is dominated by the influenza A(H3N2) virus, with most sequenced viruses belonging to subclade K, genetically drifted from the vaccine virus, raising concerns around vaccine effectiveness (VE). Despite this, VE estimates from nine European studies (19 countries) indicate all-age influenza A VE of 25–45% for outpatient and hospital settings combined, similar to other seasons, with highest estimates among children (47–72%). Vaccination should be encouraged and complemented by other infection prevention and control measures.

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/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2026.31.7.2600109
2026-02-19
2026-03-15
/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2026.31.7.2600109
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Influenza vaccine effectiveness from nine studies during drifted A(H3N2) subclade K predominance, Europe, September 2025 to January 2026
<p class="citation"> <span>Citation style for this article:</span> <span class="meta-value authors"> <a href="/search?value1=Heloise+Lucaccioni&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Lucaccioni Heloise</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Diogo+FP+Marques&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Marques Diogo FP</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Freja+Kirsebom&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Kirsebom Freja</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Hanne-Dorthe+Emborg&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Emborg Hanne-Dorthe</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Mark+Hamilton&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Hamilton Mark</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Heather+Whitaker&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Whitaker Heather</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Amanda+Bolt+Botnen&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Bolt Botnen Amanda</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Magda+Bucholc&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Bucholc Magda</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Francisco+Pozo&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Pozo Francisco</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Nick+Andrews&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Andrews Nick</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Ramona+Trebbien&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Trebbien Ramona</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Safraj+Shahul+Hameed&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Hameed Safraj Shahul</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Karina+Lauenborg+M%C3%B8ller&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Lauenborg Møller Karina</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Mark+G+O%E2%80%99Doherty&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">O’Doherty Mark G</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Jamie+Lopez-Bernal&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Lopez-Bernal Jamie</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Kirsty+Morrison&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Morrison Kirsty</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Simon+Cottrell&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Cottrell Simon</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Suzanne+Wilton&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Wilton Suzanne</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Angela+MC+Rose&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Rose Angela MC</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Esther+Kissling&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Kissling Esther</a>, <a href="/search?value1=the+European+IVE+group&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">the European IVE group</a></span>. Influenza vaccine effectiveness from nine studies during drifted A(H3N2) subclade K predominance, Europe, September 2025 to January 2026. <a href="/content/ecdc">Euro Surveill.</a> 2026;31(7):pii=2600109. <a href="https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2026.31.7.2600109" title="doi link" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2026.31.7.2600109</a> <span class="ES_Article_citation"> <span class="generated">Received</span>: 06 Feb 2026;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span class="generated">Accepted</span>: 19 Feb 2026 </span> </p>
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