Flu vaccination aims to immunize 128,000 Leones

The flu and covid vaccination campaign, which began on October 1 in nursing and dependent care homes, pregnant women and children under five, opens today to the rest of the target population with the intention of immunizing at least 122,566 people who were vaccinated last year (27.4%). Vaccinations will be staggered, by appointment, to groups at greatest risk of complications if they get the disease and those who can spread the disease to others at high risk of complications. The Ministry of Health purchased 713 thousand flu vaccines worth more than 9.7 million, and, like last season, there will be no closing date. Calls and walk-in reassurances are expected to begin Nov. 18, about a month and a half into the campaign.

While it is impossible to predict how the flu will behave this season, normal levels are expected as before Covid, “nothing exceptional in timing or intensity”, according to the council’s director of public health, Sonia Tamames. The vaccine to be administered against the coronavirus is a monovalent vaccine against two subvariants JN.1 and KP.2 of the omicron strain, circulating strains of SARS-CoV-2.

There are up to five different types of vaccines available for influenza, depending on age groups or allergies, but what is new is that the adjuvanted vaccine will be offered to the population over 60, up from 65 in previous seasons. By province, León is receiving 128,400 vaccines. In the last campaign, coverage of 34.84% was recorded in the 60 to 64 year old group and 79% for those aged 75 years and above. In health care it did not reach 5%, 41.95 among pregnant women and 45% among younger children. five years, which is above the national average.