The community is opening up flu vaccinations to the general population starting this Thursday.

MURcia. The general population not considered at risk can request a flu vaccine at their health center, office or regular vaccination site starting this Thursday, November 28th.

Influenza vaccination opens to the entire population following immunization against respiratory infections (influenza and seasonal doses of adapted covid-19 vaccine), which began in October with priority groups including children under 5 years of age or workers in contact with pigs or poultry for vaccination against the flu. , as well as people 60 years of age or older or minors with at-risk conditions, health care workers, pregnant women or essential personnel.

As of November 22, global influenza vaccination coverage for boys and girls under 5 years of age is 44.76%.

On the other hand, although the target of 50% influenza vaccination coverage among people aged 60 years and older has not yet been achieved, the trend in coverage is better than in the previous campaign. In this age group, the flu vaccination rate reaches 39.09%, which is approximately two percentage points higher than in the same week of the 2023-2024 campaign. For the seasonal dose of the vaccine adapted against Covid-19, the updated coverage is 22.9% (more than six percentage points compared to the 2023-2024 campaign).

As in other years, as the seasonal vaccination rate in priority groups declines and sufficient doses are available, Health Minister Juan José Pedreño announced that from today people belonging to non-priority groups can make an appointment for an influenza vaccination, which will begin Tomorrow.

Regarding the vaccine adapted against Covid-19, national and regional protocols indicate that at present there are neither epidemiological reasons nor the immune situation of the priority groups to open this vaccination to the general population.