The arrival of autumn has enabled Osakideza to launch another year of joint action against influenza and COVID-19. Starting yesterday, the number of high-risk groups in this activity will increase to 700,000. This increase is due to the lowering of the age of the target group from 65 to 60 years, in addition to the fact that for the first time Basqueti is offering influenza vaccination to children between 6 months and 5 years old, which means approximately 73,000 children.
People over 60 years old and high-risk groups in the Basque Country (people with chronic diseases or immunosuppression, pregnant women and healthcare professionals) can make an appointment yesterday to receive both influenza and coronavirus vaccines in the upcoming vaccinations from next Monday, the 9th start. In fact, the immunization campaign started in nursing homes last week and will be expanded to other groups on November 6 after now opening it to high-risk groups. In the latter case, appointments can be requested from October 30th. In addition, influenza vaccination will be systematically offered to children aged 6 months to 5 years for the first time.
Yesterday, Health Minister Gotzone Sagardui presented the details of the vaccination campaign together with Public Health Director Itziar Larizgoitia and Osakidetza Public Health Project Coordinator Enrique Peiró. The Basque Country has 864,720 doses of influenza vaccines and 400,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines, both of which have updated ingredients to ensure better protection against different strains and variants. The consultant explained that the immunization campaign started in nursing homes in the last week of September and that starting yesterday, high-risk groups, including children, can now make appointments through the Osakide-tza website or by calling your clinic. Health Center – Vaccinations begin next Monday, October 9th.
vaccination campaign
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Who constitutes the risk group?
Residents, people over 60 years old, people with chronic diseases or low immunity, pregnant women, and professionals in the field of health and social hygiene. -
When and where will Osakidetza get the vaccine?
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health centre
On September 25, vaccination of residential residents began. As for the rest of the population, vaccinations will mainly take place at the Osakideca Health Center and at home visits, consultations or hospitals. -
risk groups
Vaccination will begin on October 9 for high-risk groups, with priority given to the oldest groups (i.e. those over 80 years old), who will receive a personal phone call from the Osakidetza or BetiOn service and, if required, will be vaccinated in their own homes . -
rest of the population
On November 6, vaccinations began for other people who requested it. At the same time, vaccinations will be carried out for the health and social care sectors. -
company
For the third consecutive year, Osakidetza is partnering with Osalan to offer companies and institutions the possibility to vaccinate their employees through preventive services. -
How to request an appointment?
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risk groups
People who belong to this group can make an appointment starting yesterday through the Osakidetza website or by calling its health center to receive the vaccine starting on October 9. -
Total population
You must wait until October 30 to request an appointment through the website or by calling your health center to receive the vaccine starting on November 6.
In the second phase, priority will be given to seniors aged over 80, who will receive a personal call from the Osakidetza or BetiOn services and, if required, be vaccinated in their own homes. Appointments can be requested now.
The third phase covers the general public, and reservations will begin on the 30th. It is considering vaccinating the rest of the population against influenza and coronavirus from November 6. Osakidetza also partners with Osalan, through its preventive services, to offer companies and institutions the possibility to offer flu vaccines to employees in their workplaces.
Under the motto “prevention is better than cure, get vaccinated”, the main goal of the vaccination campaign is to “protect the individual health of the most vulnerable while protecting the collective health”, Sagadoui said. Today, “vaccines remain the most effective preventive measure against influenza and Covid-19,” the adviser stressed, while recalling that two “simple but effective” preventive measures are frequent hand washing and the use of masks. The latter, especially those with respiratory symptoms.
risk groups
The target population was increased by lowering the age of inclusion from 65 to 60 years
The number of flu vaccines Osakidetza will receive at the event is 720,600, but that could be expanded by 20% to 864,720. Its composition, “updated based on epidemiological information collected in previous months around the world,” includes four influenza viruses: two type A and two type B.
Influenza campaign coordinator Enrique Peiró explained that all vaccines are quadrivalent, so unlike trivalent vaccines, they can also target influenza B in addition to the three most common strains of influenza A second lineage of influenza offers protection. will help reduce influenza cases as well as influenza-related hospitalizations and deaths.
For its part, the booster vaccine against the new coronavirus also has “newer ingredients”, including the newly discovered omicron subtype variant. As for the existing COVID-19 vaccines, vaccines for residents have been distributed, with approximately 400,000 doses confirmed to have been received in October alone, and this number will continue to increase.
Coronavirus
“If preventive measures are relaxed, the spread of the virus may be greater this season”
Public Health Director Itziar Larizgoitia noted that it was impossible to predict seasonal epidemics of influenza or COVID-19, but warned that the coronavirus “has a serious impact on the most vulnerable.” It could have serious consequences.” people”. “Those who care for them and those with debilitating and chronic illnesses should bear this in mind and get vaccinated,” he stressed.
Lariz Goitia noted that “we have returned to social normalcy, and overall the spread of the virus is greater, although we have not yet started an epidemic wave, and we have relaxed those preventive measures that were used before, so it is possible that this There is a significant spread of viruses during the season.