It has also launched a campaign to actively recruit smokers to prevent illness caused by the influenza virus.
Madrid, October 30 (European Press) –
The second phase of influenza vaccination in the Madrid community will begin on Monday, covering children aged 6 months to 5 years for the first time, with a potential population of 250,175 children.
The autonomous region government said in a statement that the incidence of the disease among this group of people is very high, three to four times higher than that of adults, and it releases a large amount of virus over a long period of time and is an important spreader. .freed.
The immunization comes alongside concurrent flu and Covid-19 vaccine boosters for people over 60 and high-risk groups of any age, such as people with chronic conditions and pregnant women. In the first week of phase one, which focuses on the over-65s and the health and social care professionals who care for them, a total of 232,442 vaccine doses were administered.
Specifically, according to data provided by the district administration, 133,754 people were vaccinated against influenza and 98,688 people were vaccinated against the coronavirus between October 16 and 29.
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.
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To access this service in the public primary care network, users must make an appointment with a caregiver. To do this, you have several options: in person at the health center; by calling the latter’s phone number and selecting option 3; through the Cita Sanitaria “app” or the website of the Autonomous Community of Madrid.
Also at the Community Vaccination Center of Madrid, located at 15 Calle General Ola in the capital; the Public Hospital of the Madrid Health Directorate (patients at risk); the Occupational Health Services of the Health Center and the resources of the Health Department of the Madrid City Council.
The regional executive agency is also working with the Official College of Physicians of Madrid to vaccinate health professionals and with the Enfermera Isabel Zendal public hospital to vaccinate all people who need protection from COVID-19, including co-members.
In line with international and national recommendations, injectable drugs adapted to the new Ómicron variant (XBB1.5) will be used to protect against this virus.
In order to raise public awareness of the need to adopt this protective measure, the Ministry of Health is distributing posters and information leaflets in health centers and reinforcing the message through radio programs and advertisements in newspapers, television and the media.
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On the other hand, also starting this Monday, the Madrid community will begin actively recruiting smokers through text messages to provide them with services to prevent diseases caused by influenza viruses.
The applicability of this measure is explained because they are considered an immunization target audience of particular interest due to their health conditions.