Osakidetza will distribute a total of 864,720 doses of vaccine and 400,000 doses of vaccine against COVID-19 in this influenza campaign, which is recommended for people over 60 years old and those with medical conditions that are particularly sensitive to this virus. Health Minister Gotzone Sagardui on Monday introduced the vaccination campaign that will start next Monday (the 9th) for high-risk groups. As far as influenza is concerned, the high-risk groups include for the first time 6 months old Children up to 5 years old. Sagardui called on the population to get vaccinated and warned that social relaxation in preventive measures taken during the COVID-19 epidemic could lead to an increase in the spread of the respiratory virus. As stated in this year’s campaign slogan, he noted, “Prevention is better than cure.”
The advisor recalled that in high-risk groups, the influenza virus can cause severe symptoms. This risk group has stepped up the campaign by lowering the age from 65 to 60 years and also including the population of children under 5 years of age. This means that the number of children susceptible to vaccination will increase by 73,000 and adults by approximately 700,000. These groups, in addition to those with certain medical conditions that are more susceptible to these viruses, will be able to make appointments starting this Monday and be vaccinated from Monday the 9th. In residential areas, vaccinations began last week. For the general public, the flu campaign will begin on November 6, and they can make appointments from October 30. People over 60 and those in high-risk groups will also be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine, but it has not yet been extended to the general population.
The consultant is accompanied by the Director of Public Health, Itziar Larizgoitia and influenza campaign coordinator Enrique Peiró do not want to risk how the campaign will evolve, but they do not hide the consequences that the relaxation of many preventive measures could lead to The fact that the virus spreads more. “Vaccines are the most effective preventive measure,” in addition to regular measures such as washing hands, covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze, or using a mask if necessary.
According to data provided by consultants, the current number of influenza vaccines is 720,600 doses, which can be expanded by 20% to 864,720 doses. The vaccine has newer ingredients and includes four influenza viruses: two types A and two types B. All vaccines are quadrivalent, so, unlike trivalent vaccines, they also provide protection against the second lineage of influenza B in addition to the three most common strains of influenza, which will help reduce cases of influenza as well as those related to influenza B. Influenza-related hospitalization and mortality.
The ingredients of booster vaccines against COVID-19 have also been updated to include the newly discovered omicron subtype variants. As for the vaccines available, vaccines for residents have already been distributed, with around 400,000 doses confirmed to have been received in October alone, and this number will increase in the coming weeks as new deliveries are made. On the other hand, the head of Osakidetza announced that the weekly bulletin with information on COVID-19 will now be expanded to include various respiratory diseases to monitor all of them together.