Influenza vaccination coverage in Spain is at its lowest level in the past four years. Experts say the multifactorial situation may be due to reduced risk perceptions in the population due to atypical spread of the virus in the post-pandemic winter, a possible decrease in the strength of flu vaccination recommendations and possible vaccine fatigue. After the global health alert situation caused by Covid 19 normalizes.
Professor Raúl Ortiz de Lejarazu Leonardo, Honorary Director and Scientific Advisor of the National Influenza Center in Valladolid (GISRS/WHO-WHO), who evaluated the final data of the handgrip dynamometer for 2023-2024, said: “It is necessary to convey the following message: Influenza vaccine “Influenza use is not designed to prevent mild or moderate cases that can be treated at home, but rather to prevent severe cases that can lead to hospitalization, admission to intensive care, mechanical ventilation or even death. “
He also pointed out, “We must take into account the paradigm of vaccines, which cannot guarantee 100% effectiveness, so it becomes more important to expand vaccination coverage to as many people as possible. The greater the proportion of the population that is vaccinated, the more likely the virus will be It would be less likely to cause severe or fatal cases throughout the community, and the burden on hospitals from influenza would be reduced, preventing other emergencies from affecting health care pathology.”
Among over-65s, the percentage of people vaccinated over 65 dropped significantly in most CCAAs, ranging from 1.1% to 8%, with the average estimate in Spain being 3 percentage points. to last year.
“This group requires greater vaccination coverage as they are the most vulnerable and include a high proportion of individuals with underlying conditions (cardiovascular, pulmonary, hypertension, diabetes, etc.). The result is severe disease , requiring the use of critical health services such as emergency rooms, hospitals and intensive care unit beds, often leading to prolonged hospitalizations that severely overload the health system.
As for people aged between 65 and 60, despite the expansion of vaccination recommendations to all autonomous regions over the age of 60 and the recognition of this age group as a risk group, coverage in this group fell by 2.5% compared to the previous year , closing at 34.7%.
One of the key factors in understanding low coverage in this population is low awareness of the risks associated with influenza infection, which was also highlighted in the manometer data.
“The decline in the proportion of vaccinations in this group is indicative of future trends for those over 65 years old, so it needs to be corrected as soon as possible.”
Among the 18 to 59 age group, coverage dropped the smallest, at 11.6%, just one-tenth less than the previous year. “This is because this is the group with the lowest vaccination rates historically. So when the percentage reflects the lowest vaccination levels, it is expected to increase rather than decrease.”
“However, it is also vital to strengthen referrals for this group, which has the highest absolute numbers of people with conditions such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes and asthma, and those who live with vulnerable groups.”
For the under-5 population, this season is the first time that all autonomous regions offer influenza vaccination for children aged 6 months to 5 years. Galicia, Murcia and Andalucia were the pioneers in offering vaccinations to this group last season and are the teams with the best results this season, surpassing their own figures achieved in 2022-23. “The CCAA, which started last year, has better data than other institutions, which shows an optimistic message for the future, because when the experience (expertise) factor is examined in Galicia, Murcia and Andalusia, the three who were vaccinated last year Named CCAA, the proportion in other autonomous regions is likely to increase.”
