Ibiza ‘refuses’ flu shot

According to data provided by the Balearic Islands Department of Health regarding the flu vaccination campaign, the cancellation of pre-registration for vaccination, which began last Wednesday, has made little difference to the percentage of people vaccinated in Ibiza. In this sense, the Ministry of Health told the magazine Periódico de Ibiza y Formentera yesterday that vaccinations on the island increased by only half a point in a week. Low vaccination coverage in both Ibiza and the rest of the Balearic Islands worries the region’s health minister, Manuela García. This was stated in the Bona Nit Pitiüses program on Televisió d’Eivissa i Formentera (TEF), where he expressed concern about the low data coverage, especially in risk groups and the child population.

Currently, only 10.55% of the target population under five years of age have received the influenza vaccine. “Last week, vaccination of children under five years of age was 9.9%, and in seven days it increased to 10.55%,” the Ministry of Health explained. In the case of people over 60 years of age, the coverage of the target population reaches only 39.81% in the current campaign against the virus, which is aimed at the population groups most at risk. A low percentage considering both the spread of influenza and the ministry’s vaccine promotion. Without going into too much detail, overall flu vaccination coverage does not reach 20% of vaccinations on the island.

“The Ministry of Health has been running a campaign for several weeks now, offering information to the population since the opening of the vaccination period,” they explained and pointed out that in the case of minors, it is important to “encourage” parents to vaccinate their children. children. . Asked about this low uptake despite a ban on appointments, they yesterday insisted on “vaccine fatigue” due to the pandemic in the case of adults. Regarding children, they noted that this year, for the first time, a group of minors aged six to 59 months was included in the campaign, as they are considered the main vectors of infection.

Additionally, they pointed out that data shows that children are particularly susceptible to severe flu symptoms and hospitalization.

Lowest level

However, the lowest vaccination rate is observed in the group of people between five and 59 years of age, which is only 5.87%, the same as in the rest of the Balearic Islands. In this sense, the Director General of the Department of Public Health, Antonia Elena Esteban, acknowledged that the vaccination rate among people under 60 years of age is very low this year, despite the lack of data on high rates of influenza, and recalled that there are always two peaks: one at Christmas and another one in February.

It is worth remembering that this year special attention was paid to the most vulnerable groups, such as people over 60, people with chronic diseases, pregnant women, emergency medical personnel, security forces, smokers and agricultural workers. with animals.