Influenza vaccination campaign launched in Buenos Aires province

Starting this Friday, authorized vaccination centers across the province of Buenos Aires will begin influenza vaccination campaigns aimed at reducing complications, hospitalizations, deaths and sequelae caused by influenza virus infection in high-risk groups.

The national vaccination calendar includes an annual influenza vaccine for high-risk groups, which is available free of charge at all vaccination centers in the province of Buenos Aires.

The provincial government has launched a website so Buenos Aires residents can check which health centers are offering vaccinations. By simply filtering by municipality, every neighbor can know where to go and when (enter here). In addition to this facility, residents can also inquire about service locations in each area, as in some cases the commune extends or modifies service hours and locations.

It is important to remember that the flu vaccine cannot spread disease because it is made with inactivated (dead) virus, and it can be used with the Covid-19 vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine, or other national vaccines. calendar. According to the provincial government, Vaccination will be carried out in staggered groups according to groups, starting with pregnant women, medical staff and the elderly over 65 years old.

The flu, or influenza, is a respiratory viral illness that usually occurs during the coldest months of the year, and most affected people recover without medical treatment. However, young children, the elderly, pregnant or postpartum women, and people with risk factors may develop serious complications from the disease.

Who should get the flu vaccine?

• health personnel.
• Pregnant women: Take one dose during any trimester of pregnancy.
• Postpartum population: If not given during pregnancy (preferably before discharge from the maternity hospital), give one dose within 10 days of delivery.
• Children between 6 months and 2 years old.
• People aged 2 to 64 years old Risk factors (without a doctor’s prescription).
• People 65 and older: One dose annually.
• Strategic talent.

The Buenos Aires Ministry of Health explains that “with this vaccination campaign we strive to achieve a coverage greater than or equal to 95% in each group of the target population” and to this end “apply One dose per year Ensure immunity to the flu virus variants that circulate each season. “

people People 65 and older and people 2 to 64 years old with risk factorsTogether with health personnel, boys and girls aged 6 to 24 months, pregnant women constituted the group identified as risk of developing severe influenza, Therefore, they are a target group for influenza vaccination campaigns. These risk groups do not require a medical order to require vaccination.

For boys and girls 6 to 24 months of age, the first dose is two doses 30 days apart, then once per year; for pregnant women, one dose per year is required during any trimester of pregnancy or in the postpartum period, up to 10 days.

“Given the possible complications of this disease in these groups, it is paramount that they receive the flu vaccine as soon as possible to protect them before the worst moments of influenza virus spread.” Ministry of Health. Provincial.