This week, the autonomous regions of Galicia, Catalonia, Andalusia, Bascadia and Murcia have started their autumn vaccination campaign, focusing on fighting respiratory infections.
One of the most notable developments is the rollout of covid-19 and flu vaccines to older adults and high-risk groups. Additionally, for the first time, the campaign includes infant respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunization.
This season, there are important changes to the vaccination schedule. For children, childhood influenza vaccines are included, while smokers have been identified as a high-risk group for influenza in adult vaccination programs.
Regarding covid-19, priority groups have been established to administer the newer vaccine, targeting Pfizer’s omicron subvariant XBB.1.5. The health ministry has begun distributing the first batch of vaccines and expects more to become available as the campaign progresses, including the Moderna vaccine, which has been approved by the European Union.
The Hipra vaccine is a protein vaccine that uses a differentiated approach to distribute to people with contraindications to the mRNA vaccine.
This year marks the third combined vaccination campaign against covid-19 and influenza, targeting people over 60 years old, residents of disability centers and nursing homes and people with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, kidney failure, morbid obesity, cardiovascular, Nervous or respiratory diseases, pregnant women and cohabitants of immunosuppressed patients, etc.
Vaccination is also recommended for staff in public and private health and social hygiene centers and institutions, as well as staff in essential public services such as security forces, civil protection and firefighters, to minimize the impact on the health system.
In addition to combined campaigns, influenza vaccination is recommended for children 5 to 59 months and for those 5 to 59 years who are at increased risk for complications, such as Reye’s disease in patients 5 to 18 years of age who are receiving long-term acetylsalicylic acid treatment for influenza. The likelihood of the syndrome is associated with smokers. Vaccination is also recommended for students doing internships in health and social care centers and for people who come into direct contact with animals or their secretions.
An important innovation this year is the use of the monoclonal antibody Nirsevimab to immunize 6-month-old infants born between April 2023 and March 2024 against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which showed 74.5 % effective in preventing severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Lower respiratory tract illness occurs during the first RSV season in children under one year of age. RSV caused a large number of hospitalizations last season, particularly in patients under one year old and those over 80 years old.
The plan will be developed in this way during the campaign, pending new strategies related to the vaccines already approved by the EU for adults over 60 and pregnant women.
The Canary Islands anticipates an outbreak of RSV in early October and influenza and COVID-19 in mid-October, but specific dates have not yet been determined.