of this activity Combined vaccination against COVID-19 and influenza Like most autonomous communities, the Autonomous Community of Valencia will begin to implement preventive measures for high-risk groups on October 16, taking into account the Ministry of Health’s supply plan for doses of anti-coronavirus vaccines.
Minister Marciano Gomez explained that in the case of influenza, the start date of the campaign was determined because the spread of the virus is directly related to the low temperatures in winter and because the immunity effect lasts longer, about five months.
Therefore, vaccination must be carried out every autumn, that is, from October to December, because epidemiology has proven that the onset of influenza in the Valencian Autonomous Region is later than in other autonomous regions.
On the other hand, among the new features of this year, he stressed that influenza vaccination “will be carried out among Valencians over 60 years old, instead of the 65 years prescribed so far, as well as among children without risk factors. ” months old. ” So far, it’s only been targeted at minors with risk factors.
Intranasal vaccine for children 2 to 4 years old
Likewise, Marciano Gómez stresses that “this year, for the first time, the Valencian community will have the use of an attenuated intranasal influenza vaccine in children aged 2 to 4 years. “It provides better protection against influenza virus infection, is easier to administer, and is Even less aggressive is the avoidance of punctures. “
In addition, the Ministry of Health will start on October 1 Immunization campaign against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) “The aim is to increase the protection of nearly 36,000 minors and thus avoid the main illnesses associated with this virus.”
In this sense, Gómez said, “the Ministry of Health has already followed the recommendations for the presentation of the vaccine by conveying its intention to immediately launch the first immunization campaign against RSV in the community at the meeting of the Public Health Council held last Tuesday.”
Likewise, the consultant said health centers will start calling minors from October “with the aim of immunizing them during the period of spread of the virus between October and March.”
The first immunization campaign against RSV in the Valencian community targets boys and girls under two years old with certain risk conditions, in addition to children born between April and March 31, 2023, with nearly 1,000 Minors, by 2024, are estimated to be approximately 35,000 minors.
Marciano Gomez said, “RSV is one of the main viruses responsible for a large number of hospitalizations and medical care among minors in autumn and winter, so it is necessary to immunize them and strengthen their protection.”
In fact, over the past year, RSV resulted in the hospitalization of more than 1,700 children under one year old and the hospitalization of nearly 8,000 children in the Valencian community. In addition, it is estimated that primary care centers receive around 20,000 consultations annually for this infection.
Respiratory syncytial virus infection is prevalent in childhood and is responsible for the vast majority of infant bronchiolitis, persistent wheezing, or other illnesses such as pneumonia, or promotes infections with other pathogens. Spread of the virus usually occurs between October and March, which coincides with the coldest months.