Halfway through influenza campaign, only 14% of target population in Balearic Islands vaccinated

According to data provided by the health service as of last Monday 20 November, 100,605 people who met the inclusion criteria had received the flu vaccine at that time. (The Ministry of Health recommends this to target groups to avoid complications from seasonal viruses) This includes a total of 722,580. This number represents a dismal percentage of 13.92%.

From a group perspective, the proportion is even lower among the target group under five years old, which is included in this influenza vaccination campaign for the first time. Of the 38,466 minors, 5.64% have been vaccinated, an absolute number of 2,171.

It is worth remembering that the event started later on the 3rd of the same month. Looking at the same age group, the absolute numbers are even. 1,129 children aged 6 to 23 months (10.7% of the total) and 1,023 minors aged 24 to 59 months (3.77%) have been vaccinated.

For the target group aged between 5 and 59 years old, there are 406,080 people on the island, including citizens with chronic diseases, immunosuppressed people, pregnant women or essential service workers and health centers, among others.Others, only 15,047 people were protected against the seasonal virus last Monday, and only 3.71% of them were admitted to medical centers. The vaccination drive for the general population began on October 23, about a month ago.

Finally, for those over 60, they are, as usual, the group that responds best to these public health campaigns. As of the 20th, a total of 83,387 people out of the 278,034 people in the target group had been vaccinated, with a vaccination rate of nearly 30% (29.99%). Although this higher proportion is also due to their earlier onset of immunity. You may recall that the vaccination campaign for seniors and disabled people’s residences began on the 16th of last month, after which other more vulnerable groups began to be called.

Although the Health Bureau emphasized vaccination campaign

The campaign will run until the end of December next year, and once the holidays are over, people who have clearly requested it will continue to be vaccinated during January. The campaign is not going smoothly.

Leading by example when she went to get vaccinated on October 23, Health Minister Manuela García recalled that the ideal vaccine coverage to protect society from seasonal viruses should be around 70% of the target population. They also conspired to increase the figures from the previous year, when only 48% of the Balearic Islands’ citizens were vaccinated. and inclusion criteria When it comes to healthcare workers, the numbers are even smaller: only 14.9% of the 22,000 employees in health services and 14.7% of private healthcare professionals have been vaccinated.

smoker, on the fly

Despite the poor data, Verónica Vega, the nurse who is coordinating the campaign across Mallorca, points out that the health workers working on these tasks have a subjective view, admitting that the reception of people this season Very high. Over 60 years old.

Although only 30% of this group has been vaccinated so far (83,387 out of a target group of 278,034), the professional reported that this number would still need to include nearly 7,000 nursing home users and people with disabilities and the people who started the campaign in mid-October.

The coverage rate for children under 5 years old without underlying diseases is lower (5.64%), and the person in charge pointed out that since they started last (November 3), it is too early to evaluate.and Regarding the vaccination of smokers, it was revealed that they were opportunistic, taking advantage of the fact that they were in the office to urge them to get vaccinated.

To encourage people to get vaccinated, the professional noted that she would ask people with diabetes or COPD if they would be willing to be hospitalized for the flu, and what the population as a whole would do if there was no or no vaccine. They have to pay for it.