Gatherings of friends, family gatherings, and the typical social interactions of the Christmas period have led to an increase in acute respiratory infections (influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus, which can cause bronchiolitis in minors). According to data from the Ministry of Health, the latest weekly report (corresponding to week 50, from the 11th to the 17th of this month) shows that the incidence rate of acute respiratory infections in Andalusia is 460 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. This means confirmation of the “uptrend” experienced since week 45. Compared with the previous week (December 4-10), the incidence rate has almost doubled, rising from 246 cases registered then to the previous 460 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Week.
The data for Andalusia are better than those available at the national level. In the same week of week 50, the global incidence rate increased to 793.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. By age group, the incidence of ARI was highest in children under 1 year of age and 1 to 4 years of age. The National Epidemiological Surveillance Network reports that the incidence of influenza syndrome and bronchiolitis is on the rise.
Last week (50th), in the routine analysis carried out by the Andalusian hospital network, the positivity rates for influenza and COVID-19 also increased, with the positivity rate for COVID-19 rising from 13.3% to 14.3% and from 13% to 20% . Flu percentage.
seasonal viruses
Rocio Lorenzo, a preventive medicine specialist at the Capital’s Our Lady of Victoria Hospital and Ronda Serranha Hospital, explained that in the case of influenza, since it is a seasonal virus with a higher incidence rate in winter, the growth rate higher. Getting older. In addition, social relationships on these dates, gatherings of family or friends, often in closed places, can lead to greater spread of the virus.
Malaga has 61 vaccination points offering influenza vaccination to children aged 6 to 59 months, without an appointment
The Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs of the Government of Andalusia, through the General Directorate of Public Health and Medicines Regulation and the Andalusian Health Service, opened 61 vaccination points in Málaga in the morning (35 in the province and 26 in the capital) and in the afternoon Influenza vaccination is available to minors aged 6 months to 4 years 11 months (59 months). The measure joins a door-to-door campaign targeting vulnerable adult groups that has been launched since December 12.
The Department of Health and Consumer Affairs is stressing the importance of getting vaccinated ahead of the peak in respiratory virus infections, which is expected to occur after the Christmas holidays. “Children’s influenza vaccine is an effective and safe tool to prevent severe illness and hospitalization,” they noted.
Since the launch of the 2023-2024 influenza vaccination on October 16, 106,684 children aged 6 to 59 months have been vaccinated against influenza so far, with a coverage rate of 38.1%. In this sense, the Andalusian health authorities once again call on the parents and guardians of the nearly 173,000 children of all ages who have not yet been vaccinated to visit authorized health centers on December 27 this year to protect them from the virus.
The influenza vaccination rate among children in Malaga reaches 32.5% of this population. The authorities emphasized that children under 5 years old are the group with the highest incidence of influenza every winter, and are also the second age group with the highest number of hospitalizations due to influenza complications after the elderly over 80 years old. age. They added: “We must remember that influenza can also be serious in children, especially those under 5 years of age.”
Regarding COVID-19, the expert also noted that incidence rates have “continued” to rise since September last year, although she has not experienced a rebound in COVID-19 cases. The trend will also be upward in the coming weeks as more cases will be registered due to the upcoming festive season.
Vaccination
As a preventive measure, Rocio Lorenzo undoubtedly recommends the flu shot. “Despite the fact that the virus mutates very frequently, the effectiveness of the vaccine has always been high,” he noted. Mutations are changes in the genetic material of the virus. When an influenza pandemic occurs, this mutation becomes very important. The strains that emerge each year are used to prepare next year’s vaccine, and the viruses in them are not necessarily the same due to some mutation. The doctors explained that the vaccines now in use are quadrivalent, that is, they combine four types of viruses, two of which are so-called A strains and the other two are B strains or lineages. Although the effectiveness cannot reach 100%, immunity is possible. This is achieved at least 60% of the time. “If you get the flu, it’s going to be less severe than if you weren’t vaccinated,” he noted.
Regarding the voluntary vaccination of children aged 6 months to 4 years and 11 months, which started yesterday in Andalusia, Rocio Lorenzo recommended that parents vaccinate their children to protect them against the respiratory syncytial virus Infected, this virus can cause bronchiolitis in minors. Although it clarified that it is not a true vaccine, but a monoclonal antibody that activates the body’s passive defenses long enough for them to be protected.