Between October 1 and January 31, 69% of people aged 65 and over had coverage, while 75% of those over 80 received intensive treatment for COVID-19
On January 31, the Madrid community concluded the seasonal influenza vaccination campaign that started on October 16, with 1.5 million people vaccinated. The coverage rate for seniors aged 65 and above is 69%, with a total of 844,441 people. 85,155 healthy children aged 6 months to 5 years received this preventive treatment, a first-of-its-kind measure in the region.
In addition, 1 million citizens, including 75% of Madrid’s population over 80 years old, have received intensive treatment against COVID-19, with prevention recommended for high-risk groups (which also includes people with chronic diseases and social health professionals).
Health Minister Fatima Matute stressed that this season “the impact of the vaccination campaign against influenza and other respiratory viruses has been clearly recognized, as their incidence is, logically, lower than in the pre-pandemic season” , overall, this has had an impact on reducing cases and hospitalizations.”
Regarding immunization against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the Madrid public health system is a pioneer in causing bronchiolitis and has so far immunized 81% of the population since October 1 last year. The target is 36,227 children under six months of age and newborns (96% of babies delivered since October). This measure, which lasts until March 31 at the Niño Jesús Public Hospital and the Public and Private Maternity and Maternity Hospitals (Neonatal), has resulted in a reduction of more than 50% in the number of cases and a 70% reduction in the number of admissions of children under one year old.
“These results are the result of measures that are part of a joint working strategy at all levels of care and are supported by the pillars of vaccination prevention, epidemiological alert and care resource planning and the winter plan,” Matute said.
He also recalled that although the flu peak occurred in the last week of last year, its incidence rate was 181 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, “much lower than other seasons with more than 300 cases”, and currently stands at 35.5 cases, which is very low. The epidemic threshold is close to being lowered.
Regarding COVID-19, the consultant said that there are currently 11.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, a decrease of almost 62% from the previous week, and a 50% decrease in income. The second dose of vaccination is targeted at high-risk groups: people aged 60 years and above and people aged 12 to 59 years with medical conditions at public health centers and other authorized sites in the region.
winter plan
In order to deal with the spread of this typical disease, the Autonomous Community of Madrid has launched the measures planned for the winter, which include the employment of 1,800 professionals in hospital centers and the provision of 1,075 hospital beds according to care needs. Daily stress monitoring. Rapid referral lines to secondary inpatient and support hospitals have also been established.
Through daily monitoring, the first phase of measures was launched at the end of November, and the next phase of measures, based on monitoring of emergency services such as medical inpatient wards and intensive care units, was launched in mid-to-late December.