Who should get the flu shot this year and who shouldn’t?

The Public Health Commission has decided to move forward with a joint vaccination campaign against influenza and Covid-19, with the season starting in the last week of September, unlike other years where vaccination campaigns start in October.

The flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine will be given to high-risk groups at the same time, and a large number of scientific studies have shown that this approach can enhance the effectiveness of both types of immunity.

The Department of Health’s vaccination recommendations for Covid-19 and influenza are designed to The following risk groups:

– Over 60 years old

– Persons aged 5 years and over who live in residential and disabled centers or in long-term closed institutions.

– Children under 60 years of age with high-risk medical conditions such as diabetes, morbid obesity, cancer, dementia, immunosuppression, celiac disease, Down syndrome, chronic diseases, etc.

– Pregnant women in any trimester of pregnancy and women in the postpartum period.

– Cohabitant of an immunosuppressed person.

– Staff of public and private health and social care centers

– Workers in health facilities such as pharmacies.

– Persons working in essential public services (in particular security forces, firefighters and civil protection personnel).

As far as the flu vaccine is concerned, in addition to these groups, it is also recommended for:

– People aged 5 to 59 years who are at higher risk for complications from influenza (people aged 5 to 18 years who are on long-term treatment with acetylsalicylic acid and smokers).

– Students doing internships at the Center for Health and Social Wellness.

– Persons who have direct occupational contact with animals or their secretions in poultry, pig or mink farms or farms, or with wild animals.

People who should not get the flu vaccine include:

– Children under 6 months.

– People who are allergic to the active ingredient or any component of the vaccine.

– People who have had a severe allergic reaction to a flu vaccine before.

– For people with fever or acute infection, vaccination should be postponed until recovery.