The Vaccination Information System of the General Directorate of Public Health of the Ministry of Health reflects that in the current week, after 119 days have elapsed since the start of the flu vaccination campaign (it began on October 17 throughout the Valencian Community ), in terms of declared doses, “there are three departments above the previous season: Alicante-San Juan, Castellón and Gandía”. Thus, in our health zone 3% more flu vaccines have been given so far than in the same week of the previous campaign, with a total of 53,376 doses.
A very noteworthy piece of information for the person in charge of Preventive Medicine at the Sant Joan d’Alacant University Hospital, Dr. María Teresa Gea, is that “for the third consecutive year, according to data from the Ministry itself, a rate of 100 % coverage in influenza vaccination among healthcare personnel”. Thus, the Hospital’s Preventive Service launched an information campaign in October for all employees of the Department. In addition, “anyone who joins work for the first time goes through the Occupational Risk Prevention Service, from where they refer a consultation to Preventive Medicine and here we offer them the flu vaccine during the campaign,” explains Gea. And this high coverage is very important given that health personnel are the ones who have to be in contact with and care for people at risk.
In the hospital’s Preventive Medicine service, vaccination without an appointment is open for all staff and risk groups between 8:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. And given the “low temperatures and the increase in flu cases, the 2022-23 flu vaccination campaign is extended until the end of February”, highlights Public Health in its latest report. Thus, the data shows that on February 7 the incidence of this respiratory virus was 268 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Therefore, the person in charge of Preventive Medicine encourages “especially people at risk and over 65 years of age to continue getting vaccinated during these last days of the campaign, since sometimes the flu can lead to complications in their underlying pathology and It can even cause death.”
We remind you that the agendas are still open in health centers to make an appointment and get vaccinated, both for flu and Covid, in Primary Care.
