Madrid, November 3 (European Media) –
The vaccination campaign in the Autonomous Community of Madrid is progressing “successfully”, with more than 410,000 doses of influenza vaccine administered to people over 60 years old, more than 4,400 doses of intranasal vaccine for children aged 6 months to 5 years, and a further 22,000 doses for To prevent influenza virus. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), causing bronchiolitis.
The Health Minister of the Autonomous Region of Madrid, Fatima Matut, announced some data this Friday during a visit to the Caniejas Health Center, which she described as “successful”.
Specifically, within the framework of the influenza vaccination campaign that started on October 16 and will end on January 31, so far people over 60 years old and high-risk groups of any age (such as patients with chronic diseases) have been vaccinated 410,000 doses of flu vaccine. People and pregnant women.
“This is successful because all health centers are full of requests for flu vaccine visits and consultations, which will also lead to lower revenue and lower flu infection rates,” the health chief explained.
Last Monday, the second phase of the campaign began as a novelty event that includes children from 6 months to 5 years old, with a potential population of 250,175 children. According to data provided by counselors, 4,400 vials of intranasal medication have been administered so far.
The incidence of the disease is very high in this group, three to four times higher than in adults, and they shed more virus over a longer period of time and are important spreaders.
Within the framework of the campaign coordinated by the Directorate-General of Public Health and with a budget of €19 million, 1.6 million doses of influenza vaccine have been procured, 100,000 more than the number to be used in 2022, as well as 28,000 vials of intranasal medication for the prevention of influenza. Children who are 4 years old or will be 4 years old in 2023 (born in 2019) and who are not immunosuppressed will receive it.
As for the vaccination campaign against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which causes bronchiolitis and pneumonia, 22,000 doses have been administered since its launch on October 2, targeting infants under 6 months old born in April this year.
“This is a success and we hope this will help prevent health and reduce the number of hospitalizations,” Matut stressed.
Generally speaking, the number of case detections begins to increase in October and reaches the peak of the epidemic from December to January. In Spain, 78% of severe bronchiolitis cases are caused by RSV, and it is estimated that nearly 10% of healthy hospitalized children require intensive care.
Last season, bronchiolitis resulted in more than 3,600 hospital admissions and 300 ICU admissions in the Madrid community. Whether it is a bronchiolitis episode in primary care or an emergency admission, children under 2 years of age have the highest incidence rates, especially in the first year of life.
In this context, the Community has invested €10.8 million in the purchase of 50,000 doses of vaccine against bronchiolitis in infants. It will be administered at the La Paz, Gregorio Marañon, Nino Jesus and 12 de Octubre hospitals in the capital, as well as at the Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda hospital.