Salute sent 2 million SMS to those who were not vaccinated against flu and Covid

Two months after its start, the pace of the protection and immunization campaign against influenza and covid in Catalonia is similar to that of last season. That is, it is not enough, according to the Ministry of Health’s criteria, to guarantee adequate coverage of vulnerable groups of the population and avoid a collapse of primary care and hospitalizations.

Meanwhile, the epidemiological situation indicates a change in the trend of influenza incidence, which “may indicate the beginning of an epidemic peak,” show the relevant data from the Information System for the Surveillance of Infections in Catalonia (Sivic) for this period. from 11 to 17 November.

Under these conditions, Salut launched a reminder campaign for unvaccinated people who are part of the population groups for whom vaccination is recommended. From yesterday to today, two million SMS messages were sent from the department reminding these people that they can request a day and time for vaccination at their vaccination referral centers or at public vaccination sites temporarily opened throughout the territory to facilitate accessibility.

Increased incidence of influenza indicates the beginning of the peak of the epidemic

As for the 133,711 candidates to be vaccinated living in Barcelones Nord and Maresme, this Tuesday they received a second batch of SMS indicating the already scheduled day, time and place of vaccination, as in the first wave of messages sent at the beginning of October. . Pilot testing is being conducted in these areas to improve vaccine availability (and coverage) through appointments already identified by Salyut, and at six public vaccination sites open Monday through Saturday.

In the absence of a more precise estimate in December, the pace of vaccine administration this year is similar to that of previous post-Covid seasons, according to Salyut. To date, more than 776,000 doses have been administered against flu and 571,000 against Covid.

The campaign began on September 23 in nursing homes, among people over 80 years of age and pregnant women. In the second stage, on October 14, immunization of children from 6 to 59 months, people over 60 years of age and people with risk diseases, regardless of age, began.

The goal is to immunize at least 75% of people over 60, 60% of pregnant women and people at risk of the disease, and increase coverage of children aged 6 months and 5 years.

Last season, on January 9, coverage was significantly lower than expected: 66% against influenza and 59% against covid in people over 80; 53% against flu and 45% against covid in the group from 70 to 79 years old.

In this campaign, Salyut intensified calls for vaccination through the media and social networks with the desire to “protect and immunize as many people as possible against respiratory viruses that increase their circulation in the autumn-winter period.” “The goal is to prevent the rise of vaccine-preventable diseases, as they can be particularly serious in the most vulnerable populations.”

Last season, the Generalitat invested almost 29 million euros in influenza vaccines and antibodies against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), responsible for 80% of cases of hospital-acquired bronchiolitis.

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Anthony Lopez Tovar