Canary Islands Government News Portal

Influenza and covid-19 vaccines are available for pregnant women, people over 60, people 5 or over in center-based care, children under 60 with chronic conditions, people living with high-risk groups and essential people serving the community personnel.

In a new initiative, it includes influenza vaccination for boys and girls aged 6 to 59 months, smokers, people aged 5 to 59 who are at risk of complications and people with direct occupational contact with farms or farm animals.

Vaccination appointment management will be carried out at no extra cost through 012 or its numbers 922 470 012 and 928 301 012

Esther Monzón, Minister of Health of the Government of the Canary Islands, presented this morning the influenza and covid-19 vaccination campaign for the 2023-24 season, which will start next Monday (October 16) in all health centers of the islands. It includes a ton of new features compared to previous campaigns.

José Díaz-Flores, Director of Public Health and Amós García, Head of the Epidemiological Services of the Canarian Health Service (SCS), together with consultants, detailed the planned actions and the different types of vaccines that will be administered to face this season and reminders Advertising campaign for who should get vaccinated.

In preparation for the 2023-24 influenza season, the Canary Islands purchased a total of 335,000 doses of vaccine, with a total investment of 2.989 million euros.

Esther Monzón noted, “This year we are still facing a situation where covid-19 coexists with other seasonal diseases such as influenza, so vaccinating the most vulnerable and essential professionals in the community remains critical.”

Additionally, he recalled, “By vaccinating high-risk groups against influenza, we can also avoid the coexistence of both infections, influenza and covid-19, in the same person, thus minimizing the severity of illness and stress to patients.” health system”.

José Díaz-Flores explained that the information campaign will be disseminated through digital media, social networks, duty screens in hospitals and health centers, LED screens in urban environments and radio stations, To keep in mind population groups who are at risk of complications if they get the flu or covid-19, and who should be vaccinated.

In this sense, the Director-General of Public Health insists that the vaccine is the most effective means of avoiding contracting or spreading influenza, especially for those who are at risk of complications from the disease and for those who receive the vaccine. Critical for communities such as health workers and caregivers of the elderly or dependents.

In addition, Amós García, head of the Epidemiology Unit, reports that facing this season there will be four types of vaccines aimed at:

– Target group above 6 months. 100,000 doses have been purchased, with an investment of 390,000 euros.
– Target group above 24 months. 180,000 doses of vaccine have been purchased for a total amount of 1,386,000 euros.
– Accommodation for the elderly and bedridden at home; over 60 years old. 30,000 doses of vaccine have been purchased, with an investment of 750,000 euros.
– Boys and girls aged two to five years (59 months) without underlying medical conditions. It may also be used in patients aged between five and fourteen years (inclusive) with underlying pathology and without contraindications. 25,000 doses of vaccine have been purchased, with an investment of 463,000 euros.

Seasonal vaccination recommendations for 2023-2024

Each year, influenza vaccination recommendations are developed in the fall for people who are at higher risk for complications from infection and who may spread the disease to other people who are at higher risk for complications. As of the 2021-2022 season, flu vaccinations are available at the same time as Covid-19 vaccinations.

The purpose of coronavirus vaccination is to enhance the protection of the most vulnerable groups and health and social care personnel in order to reduce morbidity and mortality caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the impact of the disease on health care capacity and health care capacity. Social health.

Flu/covid-19 vaccination

Taking into account the current epidemiological situation of covid-19, it is recommended to vaccinate the following groups of people in autumn and winter (2023-2024):

Because you have a greater risk of complications or serious illness if you have these infections:

– Persons 60 years of age or older.
– Persons five years of age or older, inmates of care centers and nursing homes for persons with disabilities, and other long-term institutionalized persons and residents of closed institutions.
– People under 60 years old with chronic medical conditions, such as:

Diabetes and Cushing’s syndrome.
Morbid obesity (BMI ≥40 in adults, ≥35 in adolescents, or ≥3SD in children).
Chronic cardiovascular, neurological, or respiratory diseases, including bronchopulmonary dysplasia, cystic fibrosis, and asthma.
Chronic kidney disease and nephrotic syndrome.
Hemoglobinopathies and anemia or hemophilia, other coagulation disorders and chronic bleeding disorders, and recipients of blood products and multiple transfusions.
Asplenia or severe splenic dysfunction.
Chronic liver disease, including chronic alcoholism.
Severe neuromuscular disease.
Immunosuppressive.
Cancer and hematological malignancies.
CSF fistulas and cochlear implants should wait.
Celiac disease.
Chronic inflammatory diseases.
Disorders and diseases that cause cognitive impairment: Down syndrome, dementia, etc.

– Pregnant women in any trimester of pregnancy and women in the postpartum period (six months postpartum).
-Living with people who are highly immunosuppressed, people with other high-risk medical conditions, and the elderly.

To reduce the impact and maintenance of critical and essential services to the community:

– Persons from health care centers and institutions (including pharmacies) and public and private social and health care providers (including health care and non-health care personnel).
– Personnel working in essential public services, with special attention to the following subgroups:

-National, regional and local security forces and agencies.
-Armed Forces.
-Firemen.
-Civil Defense Services.

Flu vaccination

In addition to the previous groups, influenza vaccination is also recommended for the following groups:

-Population of children between the ages of 6 and 59 months (5 years).
– People between the ages of 5 and 59 who are at increased risk of complications from influenza, such as those between the ages of 5 and 18 who are receiving long-term treatment with acetylsalicylic acid, or all smokers.
-Students doing internships in health centers and institutions (including pharmacies) and social health centers.
– People who have direct occupational contact with poultry, pig or mink farms or animals or their secretions or wild fauna (birds, wild boars or mustelids), such as ranchers, veterinarians, farm workers, hunters, birds The purpose of vaccinating these groups is to reduce the chance of simultaneous infection of humans and avian or swine viruses, thereby reducing the possibility of recombination or genetic exchange between the two viruses.