Murcia launches flu vaccination campaign

Murcia City Council launches campaign against influenza and Covid-19, starting seasonal vaccinations against respiratory infections, Vaccination will be carried out in a staggered manner, with priority given to those at the highest risk of complications, in accordance with the plan set by the Ministry of Health.

The main goal of the campaign is to reduce morbidity and mortality caused by influenza and influenza Coronavirus disease, Especially for people who are at higher risk for serious illness. COVID-19 and influenza have similar complications and mortality rates, so older adults and those at higher risk must protect themselves. In the current campaign, specific vaccines are offered according to age and health status (intranasal injection for children from 2 to 4 years old, with adjuvant for those over 80 years old, with different manifestations in adults or minors, etc.).

“In the 2022/2023 campaign, the influenza vaccination coverage for people over 60 years old in the city of Murcia reached 62.78%, slightly above the regional average (61.49%), which is why the Murcia City Council , we would like to call on our neighbors to protect themselves, take care of themselves and get vaccinated to prepare for the winter,” said Pilar Torres, MP for Social Welfare, Family and Health.

The mayor stressed the importance of promoting influenza vaccination among children under 5 years of age, as this age group has more medical visits, higher admissions (68% of admissions to minors not at any risk) and more severe cases higher than those over 65 years of age.

All residents of the city of Murcia can be vaccinated in cooperation with the Vaccination Service of the Ministry of Health and provided with the necessary materials for this purpose.

To be vaccinated, you need to make an appointment in advance, which can be made from the Murcia City Council website https://www.murcia.es/web/portal/cita-previa/citapreviaurb/ or by calling 968 358600 extensions 38314 and 33422 for any appointment The schedule is Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm.

The vaccination center in the Salitre Gardens of Murcia has launched three appointment types: one for influenza vaccination in children (6 to 59 months) and another for people over 80 years old against influenza and/or covid-19 ( As the event progresses), the agenda will open), ending with any calendar or traveler vaccinations (children and adults).

Vaccination schedule

Yesterday, Monday, October 9, children aged 6 to 59 months who have not yet been vaccinated in a school setting began receiving the flu vaccine.

On Monday 16 October, people over the age of 80 (born in 1943 and before), as well as health and social hygiene staff and workers, will be vaccinated against influenza and seasonal doses of the Covid-19 vaccine on a rotating basis. Essential (teachers, security forces and agencies, prison institutions, etc.).

For its part, on Monday, October 30, influenza and Covid-19 vaccinations will be available to seniors aged 60 or older (those born in 1963 and before). Healthy people aged 65 to 80 years or who are at risk should take the opportunity to review their pneumococcal vaccination status, and people who were born in 1958 or who are immunosuppressed should take the opportunity to review their shingles vaccination status.

Likewise, it will also be conducted for people under 60 years of age who belong to risk groups and priority groups.

Finally, throughout December, as flu vaccinations for priority groups decrease, people who do not fall into these groups but want to be vaccinated may begin to receive the flu vaccine if doses are available. According to the Ministry of Health’s protocol, general Covid-19 vaccination is not recommended for people who do not belong to the target groups until the end of the campaign. This information will be updated later as the event progresses.

“Immunity to both influenza and Covid-19 wanes over time, with the most vulnerable receiving their last dose about a year ago. Both vaccines can be given on the same day and target the circulating viruses Variants are updated. In addition, it is especially important to vaccinate pregnant women against influenza and COVID-19, as it protects both mother and baby. Vaccination can reduce influenza hospitalizations in adults by half, by 40% in pregnant women, and mothers vaccinated during pregnancy are 6 The number of babies under 1 month old can be reduced by 50%,” the mayor declared.

“So, it’s worth remembering that adverse reactions are rare and the flu vaccine does not cause the illness. However, if you have any questions, you should ask your healthcare provider first,” Torres said.

Other vaccines available from health services

In addition to seasonal vaccinations against influenza and Covid-19, Salit Gardens offers the following vaccinations:

· These vaccines are listed in the lifelong vaccination plan approved by the Public Health Commission on February 17, 2022. The plan includes prenatal vaccination against 14 vaccine-preventable diseases, as well as vaccination for pregnant women up to those aged 65 and over, as well as for risk groups.

· Vaccines against:

anyone polio

anyone Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis

anyone Haemophilus influenzae type b

anyone MMR

anyone chicken pox

anyone Hepatitis B

anyone Meningococcal disease, serogroups A, C, W, Y and B.

anyone human papilloma virus

anyone pneumococcal disease

anyone Shingles

· Vaccines for updating vaccination schedules for immigration, sheltered minors, social services, etc.

· Vaccine against Covid-19, taking into account the continuously updated vaccination strategy, which sets out the groups to be vaccinated and vaccination guidelines against Covid-19.

· Vaccines for travelers are sourced from foreign health (some of which are not funded by users to purchase for administration).

· Vaccines for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) (Hepatitis B, Human Papillomavirus, Monkeypox, etc.) available through CheckPoint Consultation.

· A new initiative to administer anti-respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) monoclonal antibodies to infants younger than 6 months of age will be added in the fall of 2023.