Health includes rotavirus vaccination at 2 and 4 months in official calendar • Showcase

As of today, July 1, the Government of La Rioja is making changes to the Lifelong Immunization Program, as announced this Monday by the Minister of Health and Social Policy, María Martín, together with the Director General of Public Health, Consumption and Care, Eva Martínez. The main innovations of this immunization program are related to the inclusion of vaccination against rotavirus at 2 and 4 months of age and the expansion of vaccination against meningococcal ACWY at 4 months of age.

La Rioja has purchased a total of 27,500 doses to participate in the new vaccination program for a total of 1.6 million euros. Specifically, 5,000 doses for a total of 249,600 euros for free vaccination against rotavirus for children aged 2 and 4 months. On the other hand, the company has purchased 8,000 doses for a total of 181,958.40 euros for the meningococcal ACWY vaccine for children aged 4 months, 12 months and children under 12 years. In addition, 7,500 doses of the pneumococcal vaccine serotype 15 for a total of 309,192 euros. And finally, 875,420 euros for the purchase of more than 7,000 doses of the herpes zoster vaccine.

In addition, as part of this new vaccination campaign, the Government of La Rioja will continue the immunizations and vaccinations started in 2023, including immunization against RSV in children under 6 months of age, vaccination against influenza in minors and vaccination against herpes zoster upon reaching 80 years of age.

The Minister of Health and Social Policy stressed that this calendar “is a fundamental tool to guarantee the protection of citizens who, from childhood to adulthood, must receive these vaccines to help combat certain infectious diseases for which there are vaccines that can be administered safely and effectively.” Martin stressed that the implementation of these vaccination programs “means effective control of infectious diseases in children and in the most vulnerable groups of the population,” and stressed that, thanks to the new program, progress has been made “in the quality and equity of the vaccines supplied to La Rioja. In addition, he stressed that “a high percentage of people adhere to this program, achieving a vaccination coverage of more than 95% in many established guidelines, especially in the pediatric age group,” he said.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunization in children under 6 months of age.

The Autonomous Community of La Rioja has included in its 2023 immunization schedule the administration of nirsevimab during the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season for children under 6 months of age. Infections caused by this type of virus represent a significant burden on health care each winter. In addition, RSV infection is associated with a higher incidence of bacterial respiratory diseases.

For this reason, in July 2023, the Public Health Commission gave its consent for the use of nirsevimab in the 2023-2024 season in children aged 0-6 months (at the beginning of or during the RSV season). Nirsevimab immunization coverage in communities in the 2023-2024 season was high: on average, more than 90% among newborns during the season and 87% among those born before the season. In La Rioja, coverage of 92.5% and 92%, respectively, was achieved. In addition, it shows a good safety profile, and RSV surveillance this season shows a significant reduction in RSV-related hospitalizations in children under one year of age compared to the 2022-2023 season.

Shingles Vaccination at Age 80

Likewise, in March 2023, systematic vaccination against herpes zoster was introduced in La Rioja among the entire population in the 65-year age group. It began with those born in 1958. In addition, in order to reach a larger part of the population, in the same year, vaccination began to be given to the population that turned 80 in 2023 (cohort of 1943) and went on to continue successively with the cohorts of the population that reached this age. During 2024, this will correspond to those born in 1944 turning 80 and those born in 1959 turning 65.

Vaccination schedule 2024

Pregnancy:

One dose of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine is given at each pregnancy, starting at the 27th week of pregnancy, preferably at the 27th or 28th week.

Flu vaccine during the annual campaign.

0 months

Respiratory syncytial virus.

2 months:

Hexavalent vaccine (polio, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hemophilus infection b, hepatitis B). Vaccine against meningococcus B, pneumococcus, rotavirus and respiratory syncytial virus.

4 months:

Hexavalent vaccine (polio, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, Haemophilus influenzae b, Hepatitis B). Vaccine against pneumococcus, meningococcus B, meningococcus ACWY, rotavirus and respiratory syncytial virus.

From 6 to 59 months:

Flu vaccine in the annual campaign.

11 months:

Hexavalent vaccine (polio, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, Haemophilus influenzae b, Hepatitis B). Pneumococcal vaccine.

12 months:

Measles, mumps, rubella vaccine. Meningococcal ACWY vaccine. Meningococcal B vaccine.

15 months:

Chickenpox vaccine.

3 years:

Vaccine against measles, rubella, mumps and chickenpox.

6-7 years (1st primary education):

Vaccine against polio, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough.

11-12 years (6th primary education):

Human papillomavirus vaccine (boys and girls). Chickenpox. Meningococcus ACWY.

13-14 years (2nd ESO):

Diphtheria and tetanus vaccine.

15-59 years:

Adjusted vaccination recommendations will apply.

Over 60/64 years old:

Adjustment recommendations are based on year of birth, vaccination history, or infection history. Annual influenza.

65 years:

Diphtheria and tetanus vaccine. Herpes zoster vaccine. Pneumococcal vaccine. Annual flu.