Influenza and COVID vaccinations in Madrid: dates, calendar, who gets vaccinated and how to make an appointment
Vaccination campaigns against influenza and COVID-19 will begin in Madrid next October. The Public Health Commission has officially announced that the process will begin in the last week of September, and people who need vaccinations will be able to start requesting appointments based on instructions from each community.
In the Autonomous Community of Madrid, combined vaccination will start on October 16 and may be extended until January 31, 2024.
COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations in Madrid
Will start on October 16th Adults over 65 and high-risk groups as well as health professionals and social health workers. Vaccinations will take place as usual at other locations such as local clinics, health centres, vaccination centers and nursing homes. People who are unable to travel can also apply from home.
About vaccines against COVID-19, High-risk groups and workers in sectors that may be more vulnerable to the disease will be targeted. According to the Madrid community, the dose adapted to the new Ómicron variant (XBB1.5) will be managed in accordance with national and international recommendations.
For those at high risk, getting a flu shot is necessary because, in addition to the viruses that live with us every winter, evolve and change their antigenic characteristics, So when a new dose is applied, there is protection against the last 3 or 4 variants.
What’s new about immunization in Madrid this year
This year, as a new initiative, infants under 6 months of age will also be vaccinated against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) from October 2 to reduce the impact of bronchiolitis. Last season, the disease resulted in more than 3,600 hospitalizations and 300 ICU admissions.
How to book a vaccination in Madrid?
To get the vaccine, you must apply in advance by phone (call the Reference Health Center or 900 102 112), the Madrid Community website or the Cita Sanitaria Madrid app.
Who needs flu and COVID-19 vaccinations?
Flu and COVID-19 vaccinations
Because you have a greater risk of complications or serious illness if you have these infections:
Persons 60 years of age or older.
Persons 5 years of age or older in disability centers and nursing homes, as well as other long-term residents and residents of closed institutions.
People under 60 years of age with the following risk conditions: diabetes and Cushing’s syndrome, morbid obesity (BMI ≥40 in adults, ≥35 in adolescents, or ≥3DS in children), chronic cardiovascular disease, neurological or respiratory disease Diseases, including bronchopulmonary dysplasia, cystic fibrosis and asthma, chronic kidney disease and nephrotic syndrome, hemoglobinopathies and anemia or hemophilia, other coagulation disorders and chronic bleeding disorders, and receipt of blood products and multiple transfusions, without Spleen or dysfunction, severe splenic disease, chronic liver disease including chronic alcoholism, severe neuromuscular disease, immunosuppression including primary immunodeficiency and immunodeficiency caused by HIV infection or drugs, and complement deficiencies in transplant recipients1 ), cancers and hematological malignancies, cerebrospinal fluid fistulas and cochlear implants or waiting, celiac disease, chronic inflammation, disorders and diseases that lead to cognitive impairment: Down syndrome, dementia, etc.
Pregnant women in any trimester of pregnancy and women in the postpartum period (up to 6 months postpartum and not vaccinated during pregnancy).
People with high levels of immunosuppression: generally refers to hematopoietic progenitor cell transplants, solid organ transplants, chronic renal failure, HIV infection with low CD4 counts (<200 cells/ml), certain primary immune deficiencies, and those undergoing treatment people. Certain immunosuppressive therapies. Cohabitants of persons suffering from other high-risk and geriatric diseases defined in paragraphs 1 and 3 may also be included.
To reduce the impact and maintenance of critical and essential services to the community:
Personnel from public and private health and social health centers and institutions (health and non-health care).
Personnel engaged in essential public services, with particular attention to the following sub-groups: national security forces and institutions on which the country, region or locality depends, as well as the armed forces, firefighters and civil protection services.
Flu vaccination
In addition to the above, it is recommended that the following groups of people receive influenza vaccination:
Population of children aged 6-59 months.
People 5 to 59 years of age are at higher risk for complications from the flu (people 5 to 18 years of age, those on long-term treatment with acetylsalicylic acid because Reye’s syndrome may occur after the flu, and smokers).
Students undertake internships at the Center for Health and Social Care.
Persons who have direct occupational contact with animals or their secretions in poultry, pig or mink farms or farms, or with wild fauna (birds, wild boars or mustelids), such as ranchers, veterinarians, farm workers, hunters, ornithologists The purpose of home, environmental protection personnel, security personnel, zoos, etc. is to reduce the chance of simultaneous infection of humans and poultry or pig viruses, and to reduce the possibility of recombination or gene exchange between the two viruses.