Andalusia starts vaccinating people over 60 and professional groups against influenza and COVID-19

Andalusia will start on Monday, October 30, the third phase of the 2023/2024 influenza and COVID-19 vaccination campaign, which started on October 9. Therefore, people over 60 years old, as well as other professional groups (security forces and institutions, ranchers, prison institutions) will be able to receive both vaccines.

The Ministry of Health thanks Andalusians for their responsibility and commitment to public health, given the current coverage figures just three weeks after the start of the campaign. Today, nearly 50% of those over the age of 85 have been vaccinated, and more than 25% of those over the age of 70 have been vaccinated, according to a statement.

Likewise, about 30,000 children aged 6 to 59 months have been vaccinated against influenza to date, and 85% of people in nursing homes have received both influenza and COVID-19 vaccines. The vaccination campaign against the 2023/2024 influenza and COVID-19 started on 9 October, with vaccinations given to people in nursing homes and disability centres; people over the age of 85, and health and social care professionals.

Vaccination schedule

Since October 16, people over the age of 70 have also been vaccinated; children six months or older, teenagers and adults with chronic diseases; highly dependent people at home and professional caregivers; pregnant and postpartum women need to be vaccinated Children’s Flu Vaccine Children aged 6 to 59 months need to get the Children’s Flu Vaccine. Starting in December, family members of people over 60, people with chronic diseases and those at high risk, as well as pregnant and postpartum women will receive flu and coronavirus vaccines.

The Ministry of Health recommends that all target groups receive influenza and COVID-19 vaccines to effectively and safely prevent serious infections from these viruses and avoid hospitalization. Likewise, it recognizes and values ​​the efforts of health professionals, especially nurses, to ensure timely vaccinations.

This campaign boosts anti-flu dose

During this campaign, the Junta Andalusia purchased 7.5% more influenza vaccines than in 2022, totaling 2.2 million doses. This increase is largely attributable to one of the campaign’s most striking innovations: lowering the starting age for adult influenza vaccination, with adults now systematically vaccinated starting at age 60, just like the COVID-19 vaccine.

People in the target group can book an appointment through the Salud Responde app or by phone, ClicSalud+ or at their health centre. Regarding the coverage of the anti-influenza campaign in 2022-2023, more than 70% of people over 65 years old in Andalusia have been vaccinated; 46% of the group of children aged 6 to 59 months, for the first time they are included in the system’s vaccination coverage ; 81.3% are pregnant women; 50.6% are health and social health professionals.

Specifically, from October 3, 2022 to the end of April 2023, a total of 1,953,383 doses were administered, an increase of 206,662 doses compared to the 2021-2022 campaign. In this way, it became the season with the highest number of flu doses administered in Andalucia’s history.