Be prepared for the flu to arrive

Be prepared for the flu to arrivegerman knight

This morning, the Ministry of Health began vaccination campaign influenza 2023-2024 Additionally, it will be placed Vaccination at the same time Coronavirus disease As in previous years, targeting vulnerable groups.As usual it’s already started the most vulnerable: Other key groups such as the elderly over 80 years old in health centers, people living in residential buildings, and health personnel.

People over 80, and those in nursing homes and medical facilities are the first to receive the flu vaccine

Between now and March, it is expected that Reaching more than 1.3 million Valencians With children aged 6 to 59 months getting flu shots for the first time this fall and efforts to immunize smokers, more than ever before, they are included in the at-risk group for both respiratory infections. In addition, there are some modifications for the risk groups for all years: older people (this year starting from 60 years old instead of 65 years old) receive both vaccines; people living in residential buildings; health and social hygiene workers; pregnant public service workers and people with diseases disease people.

Total estimated More than 2 million doses of flu and COVID-19 vaccines administered, The products are now available in refrigerators at the Valencia Medical Center and in the homes of seniors and functionally diverse people. all, 2,700 vaccination sites in three provinces, That’s according to data provided this morning by Public Health Director Ruth Urso.

The most vulnerable first

Josefa, 96, and her son Ventura, 73Josefa said she was one of the first people to receive the double vaccination this morning at the Alfahour Health Center in Valencia “so that we are not so constipated” and that she gets vaccinated “every year” and encouraged Others also get vaccinated. . “It’s going well for me,” he assured. The son who is with her this morning will also undergo two punctures, but in this case because he is in a high-risk group: “I am undergoing surgery for cancer and I have a heart attack.” Regarding the need for vaccination, Ventura is clear “Let’s see if that gives me confidence, imagine where we would have ended up if we hadn’t had COVID-19. They played their part,” he said.

Mercedes and José Luis are two other residents of the Benimaklet community who They are waiting for their turn to be pierced. They explained that the 87-year-old “gets vaccinated every year because we are a high-risk group,” and they have done so in previous years. “It gives us peace of mind.” “Last year I felt like I didn’t get punctured because I didn’t even have a reaction,” noted Jose Luis, who remembered that this was the fifth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine he had received.

After the most vulnerable, the immunization program will continue with immunization for those over 60, high-risk groups in early November, and other groups by the middle of the month. People with no symptoms can ask for a flu vaccine from 4 December. Children aged 6 to 59 months can be vaccinated at any time.

The Autonomous Community of Valencia started vaccinations against influenza and coronavirus this morning.

kids, first time

To immunize children against the flu, The health department has purchased approximately 125,000 doses of vaccine Because our goal is to try to reach at least half of the 200,000 healthy children who are being asked to protect themselves from the virus.As I recall this morning Eva Suárez, General Manager, Primary Care Department, Two types of doses were purchased this year: a Aspiration is performed in high-risk children and children 6 to 24 months of age, and inhalation is performed in children 24 to 59 months of age.

“The advantages of inhaled vaccines are that they are attenuated, produce more antibodies, are easy to administer and do not cause harm”, so they hope to be well accepted in families and that this immunization, as well as RSV (the virus that causes respiratory tract infections) bronchiolitis inflammation) has occurred and will attract attention in health centers and hospitals this year.

Eva Suárez recalls, “Influenza is very common in children, they are infected first, and then adults. They are infected longer and eliminate more viruses.” This is why the World Health Organization has recommended for many years Involve children in the movement, recalls Eva Suárez.

Avoid collapse every year

The goal to protect the most vulnerable and those most at risk of contracting the disease (but also living with it) is to try to keep it under control for one season since the annual convergence of RSV; influenza and now COVID-19 has overwhelmed health centers and hospitals. Regarding the expected influenza campaign, the Director-General of Public Health assured that “significant complications” are not expected, given what is happening in countries in the southern hemisphere such as Australia.