Madrid nurses start vaccination campaign against flu and Covid

FROM THE EDITOR.- The regional executive authority plans nurses immunize about 50,000 babies before respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Moreover, today flu and Covid campaignwhich will end on January 31, 2025 and for which the purchase of more than 1.5 million doses, among those included 75,000 intranasally for children from 2 to 4 years.

The Official College of Nursing of Madrid (CODEM) calls for the immediate strengthening of nurses so that they can cope with all guarantees and efficiency This coverage is needed at the start of immunization compared to currently active campaigns, at a time of exceptional public health pressure.

Currently, according to the latest data corresponding to 2023, The ratio of nurses per 1000 inhabitants in the region was 6.58, compared to the European Union average of 8.27 nurses per 1,000 inhabitants.

We therefore ask the Administration to take action as quickly as possible to address the Community’s nursing shortage, which is a particularly alarming situation that means that already insufficient primary care nurses are forced to block their appointments intended to care for them. patients to devote this time to vaccinating the population.

We emphasize the importance of vaccination because we cannot forget that vaccines save lives, improve public health and prevent hospitalizations.

Who should get the vaccine?

As for influenza and Covid, this vaccine is initially recommended for older people 65 years old; children from 6 months to 5 years, and groups considered at risk at any age, such as chronically ill people and pregnant women.

In addition, it is necessary to consider immunization against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which causes, among other infections, bronchiolitis and whose campaign began on October 1.

It is worth remembering that in the Madrid Community the campaign for set of men from 13 to 18 years old promote vaccination Human papillomavirus (HPV). The initiative is expected to reach 150,000 people.

CODEM encourages citizens to consult their referral nurse at the Health Center, who is in charge of the vaccination campaign.