2024 influenza vaccination campaign launched across province

The Ministry of Health and Environment reports that today, Friday, March 22, influenza vaccination campaigns are beginning in hospitals, health centers and vaccination centers across the province.

The goal of the campaign is to reduce the risk of complications from influenza viruses. Flu vaccines are now available, and vaccinations will continue throughout the fall and early winter.

In the first phase, vaccination

-Children from 6 to 24 months old

-All adults over 65 years old

-Pregnant women (any trimester of pregnancy or first 10 days postpartum)

– People between 2 and 64 years old with chronic lung disease, heart or kidney disease, diabetes, obesity (body mass index greater than 40)

-Immunosuppressed patients, such as transplant patients, patients receiving chemotherapy or high-dose corticosteroids, and patients infected with HIV.

-Health personnel (should be vaccinated due to increased risk of exposure and possibility of spreading disease to vulnerable groups)

Likewise, vaccination is recommended for cohabitants or close contacts of patients with oncohematological diseases and close contacts of children under 6 months of age (housemates, caregivers in day care centers).

Flu: what is it and how to prevent it?

Influenza is a respiratory illness caused by a virus that produces characteristic symptoms such as dry cough, sore throat, headache, muscle aches and weakness. In some cases, it may be complex and associated with bacterial pneumonia or decompensation of pre-existing chronic disease.

One of the characteristics of the influenza virus is that it mutates slightly every year, and every 10 to 40 years, its structure undergoes major changes or mutations that cause pandemics.