On October 16, the Ministry of Health will start a combined influenza and COVID-19 vaccination campaign targeting the population aged 60 or older (approximately 160,000 people in Navarra) and more than 7,500 people with high-risk medical conditions. As an innovation, the influenza vaccine is targeted at children aged 6 to 59 months, and from 24 months onwards, the vaccine will be administered intranasally.
The campaign will be carried out according to geographic, age or vulnerability criteria of Navarre health centers and clinics.
On October 3, text messages will be gradually sent to target groups, prioritizing the elderly group (those aged 80 and above) so that they can manage appointments.
As always, appointments are best made online through your personal health folder, link citasalud.navarra.es. You can also inquire by calling the following telephone numbers: 948 370 130 for the Pamplona/Irunha and Estrela-Lizara health areas and 948 370 140 for Tudela. Again, applications can be made to the corresponding health center.
Vaccination of health and social care professionals will start on October 23, and appointment requests can be made at the health center, the concentration point in the region or the corresponding hospital center (if applicable) after receiving a text message.
Who should get the flu and COVID-19 vaccine
The primary purpose of the campaign is to reduce morbidity and mortality from influenza and COVID-19 in the population by immunizing the most vulnerable and those for whom influenza has a greater impact on their health.
Therefore, as the main innovation of this year, the influenza vaccine is recommended for children aged 6-59 months, and from 24 months onwards, it will be given by intranasal injection.
In summary, the recommended groups for combined influenza and COVID-19 vaccination are:
- Persons 60 years of age or older.
- People are admitted to nursing homes.
- Those 5 years or older are confined to the disability center.
- Over 6 months of age with diabetes and risk conditions such as Cushing’s syndrome, morbid obesity, chronic cardiovascular disease, neurological disease, respiratory disease, kidney disease, immunosuppression, or cancer, and conditions that cause cognitive impairment (Down syndrome syndromes, dementia and others), as well as other risk conditions.
- Pregnant women during any trimester and within 6 months postpartum (if not vaccinated during pregnancy).
- People who live with highly immunosuppressed people.
- Staff of health and social care centers and institutions.
- Workers performing essential or important public services.
In addition, influenza vaccination is recommended for smokers and workers on farms and other types of farms who have direct occupational contact with animals.
On the other hand, it is important to note that the COVID-19 vaccine can be administered if more than 3 months have passed since the last vaccination or since the last infection.
Effective vaccines against new COVID-19 variants
For this event, the Ministry of Health of the Government of Navarra has an mRNA vaccine based on the COVID-19 XBB subvariant that provides protection against currently circulating strains of the virus.
The Navarra Institute of Public Health and Occupational Health (ISPLN) recalls that over the past year, influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations were effective in preventing serious illness, reducing the risk of hospitalization and the possibility of severe illness in vulnerable groups, According to the Public Health Bulletin of Navarra. In fact, infected people who are properly vaccinated are 80% less likely to be hospitalized.
People who have a reduced immune response due to age or chronic illness are at greater risk of complications from these infections. Therefore, another recommendation from public health is to take other preventive measures in conjunction with vaccination: avoid contact with people with symptoms of respiratory infection, wear a mask at all times if this is not possible, use masks in crowded areas, choose to go outdoors Move around or ventilate naturally and wash hands.
On the other hand, in order to reduce transmission chains, it is very important for people with respiratory symptoms to wear masks, wash hands frequently and reduce social interactions, especially with the most vulnerable groups.