The Ministry of Health begins vaccination against influenza and Covid-19 on October 14, with priority for risk groups
VALENCIA (EP). The Ministry of Health is launching a joint vaccination campaign against influenza and Covid-19 on October 14. which will be developed in stagesgiving priority to population groups that include those people who may be at greater risk of complications due to infection, the Generalitat said in a statement.
In this regard, the Minister of Health Marciano Gomezexplained that the vaccination strategy “will be implemented in stages with the aim of immunizing the target population and the most vulnerable groups as soon as possible.”
Gomez noted that experts recommend immunization “because the effectiveness of both vaccines has been demonstrated by a reduction in serious cases and complications secondary to influenza, such as pneumonia or an increased risk of myocardial infarction or stroke, which means fewer hospitalizations.” , especially for populations at risk of complications.” In this sense, he urged the population to get vaccinated, “because together we can avoid transmission of the virus and protect each other.”
Thus, he recalled that this year, as an innovation, the Generalitat has been promoting influenza vaccination in educational centers for children aged 3 and 4 years since October 1 last year, “in order to strengthen the protection of minors and avoid possible infection.” , since they are usually the first and most often to suffer from the disease.
In this sense, parents or guardians of boys and girls in 1st and 2nd grade can choose between vaccination at their health center or at school. The remaining children aged 6 to 59 months without pathology will be vaccinated against influenza at any time from the start of the vaccination campaign, without interfering with the vaccination of other groups.
In addition, special education center students (all ages), with prior authorization, are vaccinated at the educational center against influenza and/or Covid-19 by the center’s medical staff, if available, or by primary care teams. You can also get vaccinated at your primary health care center rather than at school.
Priority groups
The Ministry of Health has formed four priority groups for the campaign. From October this year, based on changing priorities, SMS messages will be sent to those in these groups to encourage them to come forward and get vaccinated. Once the vaccination of priority groups is completed, the Ministry of Health will begin immunizing the entire population in November next year.
The first group with which the vaccination campaign will begin are residents of care centers and those with functional diversity. This group also includes persons admitted to other social and medical centers (residents of social service institutions and admitted to chronic hospitals).
Likewise, medical, non-medical and social care staff will be vaccinated at these centres, as well as primary health centres, hospitals and emergency medical services who will receive the vaccine at their work centres’ occupational hazard prevention services.
For its part, the second group includes the population over 60 years of age, which will be scheduled at their regular health center, unless patients with chronic addiction or those who cannot travel to a health center will receive the vaccine at home.
The third priority group includes pregnant women who can receive flu and Covid-19 vaccinations at their health center. It also includes at-risk people aged 5 to 69 years who can also be vaccinated at their primary health centre.
Finally, the fourth priority group will be people working in the field of essential public services, people living in risk groups, children from 5 to 18 years old undergoing treatment with acetylsalicylic acid, people in contact with animals or their excretions, smokers and people over 18 years old. up to 59 years of age upon request, unless there are contraindications.
During last year’s campaign, more than 1,162,000 people were vaccinated against influenza, the highest number in the Valencian Community. By province: 428,806 people in the province of Alicante, 123,796 people in Castellon and 609,431 people from the province of Valencia.