The autumn vaccination campaign against seasonal influenza and COVID-19 starts this week in Galicia, Catalonia, the Basque Country, Andalusia and Murcia; then gradually expands to other autonomous regions. In addition, babies will receive the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine for the first time, and the children’s calendar also introduces a flu vaccine for children under 5 years old.
The groups included in the document by the Public Health Commission will receive both the coronavirus vaccine and the flu vaccine for the third consecutive season. Spanish influenza and covid-19 vaccination recommendations for the 2023-2024 season. Double immunization for people aged over 60 and over 5 years in disability centers and residences, as well as people with other associated risk conditions. Staff in public and private health and social hygiene centers and institutions, as well as staff in essential public services (security forces, civil protection and firefighters) are also advised to do the same to avoid any impact on the healthcare system.
In addition to children 5 to 59 months old and people 5 to 59 years old who are at higher risk for complications, influenza vaccination is recommended, including for the first time: smoker.
One of the main messages public health leaders want to convey is Avoid the misconception that seasonal influenza is a mild illness that rarely causes severe symptoms. Although most people develop no complications, there is another group of people who may be at serious risk, leading to consequences such as pneumonia. Furthermore, its impact on health systems is significant, especially during emergencies.
Updated COVID-19 Vaccine
Regarding COVID-19, the target groups that will be managed have been identified sera updated to Pfizer’s omicron sub-variant XBB.1.5, whose first doses of vaccine have been distributed by the Ministry of Health. It’s expected that as the campaign progresses, availability will increase and other adaptations, such as Moderna, will be included. Health is also distributing 3.2 million doses of the vaccine it received from Hipra, which unlike previous vaccines is a protein vaccine limited to those with contraindications to the mRNA vaccine.
In this sense, epidemiologists Daniel Lopez Acuna stressed the importance of re-immunizing the Spanish population against the coronavirus, since “the effectiveness of the vaccines we use decreases over time” and the additional danger of new variants of SARS-CoV-2, “which more dangerous”. are contagious and more likely to evade the effectiveness of vaccines.
“In Spain, our last round of vaccination was not at optimal levels, because almost 35% of the population over 60 years old did not receive the bivalent vaccine that also protects against omicron, and there are almost 20 million people under 60 years old who did not even have it Get a dose of vaccine,” argued the expert, who serves as director of health operations in crisis situations at the World Health Organization. “From my perspective, the recommendation is to vaccinate the entire population with this new vaccine formulation against new variants, starting with the most vulnerable groups,” he said.
Public Health Council recommendations once again call for vaccination against COVID-19 and seasonal influenza at the same time. “This is the way to ensure the prevention of both diseases as quickly as possible,” he assured the plan. UNRWA Morning Jaime PerezThe President of the Spanish Vaccinology Association made it clear that “although fortunately we are no longer in the situation of 2020, Some people continue to be hospitalized with influenza and COVID-19, These people can benefit greatly from vaccination. “
This year, for the first time, the campaign includes seasonal influenza vaccination for children aged 6 to 59 months (i.e. under 5 years old). Regarding this novelty, the President of Spanish Vaccinologists explains that it is basically due to one reason: ‘Severe disease burden’, ‘very important for children’. “Let’s understand that in three of the seven seasons before the COVID-19 pandemic, more children under 5 were hospitalized with influenza than children over 65,” he gave as an example.
“�� Flu and COVID-19 vaccination campaigns begin
��️“Here’s how to ensure both (diseases) are prevented as quickly as possible”
Dr. Jaime Perez (@jmedinensis), President of @AEV_vaccine
Full interview ⬇️ https://t.co/5symnhKnEN“
— Las Mananas de RNE (@LasMananas_rne) September 25, 2023
bronchiolitis immunity
In the activity starting now Babies will also be immunized for the first time against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the leading cause of bronchiolitis, This serious disease caused 17,000 hospitalizations in Spain in 2022 and, according to Jaime Pérez, caused the highest number of hospitalizations for respiratory infections in children under 5 years old: “2 out of every 100 children are admitted to hospital” The first year of life was spent in the hospital,” he said.
On that note, pediatricians and epidemiologists Kick Basat Canal 24 Horas celebrates the first time a Spanish child has received a monoclonal antibody to protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which causes bronchiolitis, the leading cause of hospitalization in children under one year old. “Having for the first time a proven tool to prevent serious illness and, most importantly, hospitalization of these children is a very important step forward, so “We are celebrating that we finally have a tool to protect our babies.”he promised.
Quique Bassat, pediatrician: “We finally have a tool to protect our babies from bronchiolitis”
Regarding the progress of the vaccination campaign recommended to the autonomous region by the Public Health Commission, Basat believes that “it makes sense to vaccinate as early as possible because, unfortunately, we are seeing an increase in the spread of the coronavirus, which started at the end of the summer, So the sooner we can anticipate protecting the most vulnerable, the better.”
The epidemiologist explained that “both influenza and respiratory syncytial virus follow very fixed seasonal patterns” in the fall and winter, “so we have to anticipate the arrival of these viruses and do everything possible “to ensure that hospitals don’t collapse” .