The Ministry of Health of the Government of Navarra today begins a combined influenza and COVID-19 vaccination campaign targeting the population aged 60 or above (approximately 160,000 people in Navarra) and more than 7,500 people with high-risk medical conditions.
Novelly, influenza vaccination is targeted at children aged 6 months to nearly 5 years and 59 months.
The regional executive explained that the campaign will be carried out “according to the geographical, age or vulnerability criteria of Navarra health centers and clinics”.
On October 3, text messages will be gradually sent to target groups, prioritizing the elderly group (those aged 80 and above) so that they can manage appointments.
As always, appointments are best made online through your personal health folder, link citasalud.navarra.es. You can also inquire by calling the following telephone numbers: 948 370 130 for the Pamplona and Estrela Health District and 948 370 140 for Tudela. Again, applications can be made to the corresponding health center.
Vaccination of health and social care professionals will start on October 23, and appointment requests can be made at the health center, the concentration point in the region or the corresponding hospital center (if applicable) after receiving a text message.
Who should get the flu and COVID-19 vaccine
The primary purpose of the campaign is to reduce morbidity and mortality from influenza and COVID-19 in the population by immunizing the most vulnerable and those for whom influenza has a greater impact on their health.
Therefore, as the main innovation of this year, the influenza vaccine is recommended for children aged 6-59 months, and from 24 months onwards, it will be given by intranasal injection.
In summary, the recommended groups for combined influenza and COVID-19 vaccination are:
– Persons 60 years of age or older.
– People admitted to nursing homes.
– Persons 5 years or older are confined to the Disability Center.
– People older than 6 months with dangerous medical conditions such as diabetes and Cushing’s syndrome, morbid obesity, chronic cardiovascular disease, neurological disease, respiratory disease, kidney disease, immunosuppression or cancer and conditions causing cognitive impairment (depression syndrome) disease. Down syndrome, dementia, etc.), and other risk conditions.
– Pregnant women during any trimester of pregnancy and within 6 months postpartum (if not vaccinated during pregnancy).
People who live with highly immunosuppressed people.
– Staff of health and social care centers and institutions.
– Workers performing essential or important public services.
In addition, influenza vaccination is recommended for smokers and workers on farms and other types of farms who have direct occupational contact with animals.
On the other hand, it is important to note that the COVID-19 vaccine can be administered if more than 3 months have passed since the last vaccination or since the last infection.
Effective vaccines against new COVID-19 variants
For this event, the Ministry of Health of the Government of Navarra has an mRNA vaccine based on the COVID-19 XBB subvariant that provides protection against currently circulating strains of the virus.
The Institute of Public Health and Occupational Health of Navarra (ISPLN) recalls that “over the past year, influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations were effective in preventing serious illness, reducing the risk of hospitalization and the likelihood of severe illness in vulnerable populations Sex. “Public Health Bulletin of Navarra”. In fact, infected people who are correctly vaccinated “have an 80% lower probability of being hospitalized.”
In this sense, he warned, “people who have a reduced immune response due to age or chronic disease are at greater risk of developing complications from these infections.” Another recommendation from public health, therefore, is that vaccinations should be administered at the same time as Take additional precautions: avoid contact with people with symptoms of respiratory infection, wear a mask at all times if this is not possible, use a mask in crowded areas, choose outdoor activities or natural ventilation and wash your hands.
On the other hand, in order to reduce transmission chains, it is also important for people with respiratory symptoms to “wear masks, wash hands frequently and reduce social interactions, especially with the most vulnerable groups.”