This morning flu vaccination was opened to the entire general population. Until now it was reserved for at-risk patients, healthcare personnel or those over 60 years of age. All citizens can make an appointment at the health center to receive the doses and protect themselves against the flu now that cases continue to increase after Christmas. On this first day, the health centers of the capital of Huesca have not registered a massive influx. At the Pirineos Health Center, only 26 patients had requested an appointment for the 60 available slots.
Marta López, head of Primary Care Nursing, pointed out that the announcement last Friday that the campaign was now open to all citizens due to the increase in incidence, had taken citizens a bit by surprise. Hence the low demand on the first day, “but we will have to wait to see how the appointments evolve as the week progresses,” she noted.
According to Public Health data, in the Huesca sector the percentage of the population that decides to get the vaccine increases according to age. In the Huesca sector, vaccination coverage has reached 68% in those over 65 years of age, when the objective was to reach 75%. The group over 80 years old did reach 84%, above the Aragon average. Between 75 and 79 years old, coverage has been 72%, and from here it begins to decrease to 29% among those between 60 and 64 years old, a group that until this year had not been considered vulnerable people.
The reasons given by patients who queued to be vaccinated are mainly the increase in incidence and fear of possible infections among the elderly. Although most cases of infection produce mild symptoms, in recent weeks the high incidence has caused moments of saturation in health centers and also at the Pirineos Continuing Care Point.
In López’s opinion, there are several factors why the population has relaxed with vaccination. To begin with, the population’s fatigue with vaccination, after a pandemic of almost four years. “People have relaxed, both in vaccination and in the use of masks and hand hygiene.” Climate change also influences, since the start of the campaign in autumn coincided with temperatures of 25 degrees. López believes that An effort must be made to explain why it is necessary to be vaccinated before the campaign begins. This would increase the volume of people vaccinated during the first months and avoid a peak in incidence, without reaching a situation of overload in the health system.
2024-01-15 14:06:54
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