With the arrival of autumn, different autonomous regions have begun vaccination campaigns against influenza and coronavirus, as well as other respiratory diseases. The Spanish Society of Epidemiology (SEE) has prepared a guide that answers the most frequently asked questions.
This vaccination guide was developed by the SEE Vaccination Working Group and includes two main new features:
- first anti-flu vaccine recommend Suitable for all children aged 6 to 59 monthsnearly five years ago, and in smoker.
- this coronavirus disease vaccine managed by those XBB sub-variants omicron strains are vaccine adapted.
SEE reminds that the flu vaccine and the new coronavirus vaccine can be given at the same time, as long as they are given in different parts of the body, such as one dose in each arm, and using different syringes and needles.
Experts assure that administering them simultaneously will not increase side effects and will therefore benefit the immunization of people who receive both vaccines.
Who must get the COVID vaccine again?
Given that the vast majority of people have already received a dose of the vaccine and/or have already contracted the disease, there is no need to be vaccinated again unless they fall into the following risk groups, as it can continue to cause severe cases, requiring hospitalization in some people and risk of death.
Because the SARS-CoV-2 virus spreads more during the colder months, also due to being in enclosed spaces, SEE recommends getting vaccinated (in many cases at the same time as those at high risk for influenza) to:
1. People who have the following conditions Over 60 years old.
2. Persons aged 5 or above Residential For the elderly, disabled centres, long-term institutionalized persons and residents of closed institutions.
3. People under 60 years old risk profile (Diabetes; morbid obesity; chronic cardiovascular, neurological, respiratory, renal, hepatic, inflammatory, hematological, or neuromuscular disorders; immunosuppression; cancer; cerebrospinal fluid fistulas; cochlear implants; celiac disease; and cognitive impairment).
4. pregnant and women within 6 months postpartum.
5. cohabitant (including caregivers) come into contact with people who are immunosuppressed as they can spread infection to people at higher risk.
6. staff member Health centres, social care centers and basic public services.
Which coronavirus vaccine has been updated?
In May last year, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a statement recommending that vaccines administered in the fall of 2023 be made from the XBB subvariant of the omicron strain.
Therefore, he recommended against using vaccines made from pandemic-causing strains of the virus. Whereas:
- The strain no longer circulates.
- There is laboratory evidence that these vaccines offer very low protection against circulating variants.
- Inclusion of the original strain would not favor the optimal antigenic composition of circulating variants.
- Repeated exposure to the initially transmitted virus may reduce the responsiveness of the neoantigenic components that the vaccine must contain.
According to SEE vaccination guidelines, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has not stopped evolving and other more transmissible variants are replacing previous viruses.
Do I have to get a flu shot?
SEE reminds that influenza vaccination is recommended for those at risk of serious illness from the virus:
1. People who have the following conditions Over 60 years old.
2. Persons aged 5 or above Residential For the elderly, disabled centres, long-term institutionalized persons and residents of closed institutions.
3. People under 60 years old risk profile (Diabetes, morbid obesity; chronic cardiovascular, neurological, respiratory, renal, hepatic, inflammatory, hematological, or neuromuscular disorders; immunosuppression; cancer; cerebrospinal fluid fistulas; cochlear implants; celiac disease; cognitive impairment).
4. pregnant and women within 6 months postpartum.
5. Those people coexist and immunosuppressed persons.
6. staff member Health centres, social care centers and basic public services (security forces, armed forces, firefighters and civil defence). It is recommended that these people be vaccinated to ensure essential services to the community.
and…
7. For the first time, the entire group of children aged 6 to 59 months is covered (until age 5 years) because children this age are at greater risk of becoming seriously ill and requiring hospitalization.
8. Also a first time smoker.
9. And, as on other occasions, student Internship At the Center for Health and Social Care.
10. People who work with animals or secretions from farm, poultry, pig, mink or wildlife activities. The aim is to reduce the occurrence of human and animal viral infections, which will facilitate the emergence of new influenza viruses adapted to the human species.
How many doses of flu vaccine should you get?
It is given as a single dose except in children 6 months to 8 years old who have at-risk conditions.
In this case, if they have not been vaccinated in other years, they must receive two doses, at least 4 weeks apart. Vaccination guidelines state that if they have had the flu vaccine before, the regimen is a single dose.