The Ministry of Health is clarifying the details of the next vaccination campaign against influenza and COVID-19

Given the upcoming start of this season’s flu and COVID-19 vaccination campaign, which is scheduled to begin on the 23rd, the Department of Health and Human Services, coordinating it with INGESA, recommends that groups receiving joint vaccinations Both measures are aimed at strengthening the protection of the most vulnerable groups of the population , both to reduce morbidity and mortality from the influenza virus and COVID-19, and to reduce the impact of these diseases on health and social care capabilities.

During this season, the ministry purchased 15.1 thousand anti-flu doses, of which 1.3 thousand were for children (administered intranasally to children from 24 to 59 months). In addition, there are another 8,640 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, adapted to the new strain, supplied by the Ministry of Health.

The target population groups, which are described in the document “Recommendations for vaccination against influenza and COVID-19 in the 2024-2025 season,” approved by the Public Health Commission on September 6, are the following: people over 60 years of age; residents of assisted living, institutional or disability centers; people with diabetes mellitus, obesity, chronic cardiovascular, neurological or respiratory diseases, hemophilia, kidney disease, hematological, liver, neuromuscular diseases; with weakened immunity; transplant recipients or cancer patients, among others. Other groups targeted by this vaccination campaign include pregnant women, people living with older adults and people with other high-risk and chronic health conditions; health and social care staff; members of the security forces, civil defense and firefighters; and the Armed Forces, as well as smokers; patients with celiac disease; students undergoing internships in medical and social health centers; kindergarten staff; workers directly working with farm animals. In addition to the above, flu vaccination is recommended for children from 6 months to 5 years, as in the previous season, as well as for children from 5 to 18 years with risk diseases.

The Ministry recommends vaccination against COVID-19 regardless of the number of previously received doses (even the absence of a previous dose), recommending an interval of at least three months from the last dose administered or the last infection; and also wants to highlight the importance of vaccinating people at greater risk of contracting or suffering from COVID-19 and severe influenza, including pregnant women and medical and social care staff.

Vaccination centers

The vaccination sites included in the joint vaccination campaign will be the following:

– Vaccination point of the Military Hospital, subordinate to the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Available to everyone who belongs to the target group.

– Vaccination points in INGESA health centers: zone I (El Recinto), zone II (Otero) and zone III (Tarajal). For the target group belonging to INGESA

– Private health centers with an authorized vaccination department, as well as a pediatric consultation for childhood vaccinations (currently the consultation of Dr. Carlos Lopez-Gonzalez and the Septem Clinic). For the population with health insurance through private insurance companies or private vaccination.