Spain already has a schedule for the vaccine of the gripe and for Covid-19. This year the same pattern as last year will be repeated. The flu vaccination campaign, which since the 2021-2022 season coincides with that of the Covid-19will begin from the last week of September and during the month of Octoberalthough the date may be adapted depending on the availability of vaccines, as reported by the Ministry of Health.
This was decided by the Public Health Commission at its meeting on 18 July. The joint administration of vaccines for both diseases is recommended, and these injections can also be administered simultaneously with other vaccines.
During the campaign, vaccination will be prioritized pregnant womenpeople in nursing homes greater and other centers for the care of the disabled, the elderly population and the child population between 6 and 59 months old. Furthermore, due to the strategic importance of healthcare and social care personnel, their vaccination will also be prioritized. People who work in this area also fall into this category. essential public services.
VACCINES RECOMMENDATION
Specifically, influenza and Covid vaccination is recommended for people with 60 years of age or older; people aged 5 years or older who are in disability centres, nursing homes, and residents in closed institutions; people aged 12 years and over with the following risk conditions: diabetes and Cushing’s syndrome, morbid obesity, chronic cardiovascular diseases, neurological or respiratorys –including bronchopulmonary dysplasia, cystic fibrosis and asthma–, chronic kidney disease and nephrotic syndrome, hemoglobinopathies and anemias or hemophiliaother coagulation disorders and chronic bleeding disorders, as well as recipients of multiple blood products and transfusions, asplenia or severe splenic dysfunction, chronic liver disease, including chronic alcoholism and severe neuromuscular diseases.
The objectives for vaccination against influenza and Covid-19 for the 2024-2025 season are to reach or exceed vaccination coverage of 75 percent in the elderly and in health and social care personnel.
Also included as a target population are those with immunosuppression –covering primary immunodeficiencies and those caused by infection by HIV or by drugsas well as in transplant recipients and complement deficiency–cancer and malignant blood diseaseschronic inflammatory disease and disorders and diseases that lead to cognitive dysfunction –Down syndrome, dementia and others–.
It is also recommended for pregnant women in any trimester of pregnancy and women during the puerperium (up to 6 months after delivery and who have not been vaccinated during pregnancy); as well as for people living with those who have a high degree of immunosuppression. Regarding the latter, in general, it refers to those with a bone marrow transplant. hematopoietic progenitorssolid organ transplants, chronic kidney failure, HIV infection, some primary immunodeficiencies and those undergoing certain immunosuppressive therapies. Cohabitants of elderly people and those with other higher-risk diseases may also be included.
CHILDREN POPULATION
In addition to the above, influenza vaccination is recommended for children between 6 and 59 months of age; people who have a higher risk of complications from influenza; children between 5 and 12 years of age with risk conditions; people from 5 to 18 years of age who receive prolonged treatment with acetylsalicylic acid, due to the possibility of developing a Reye’s syndrome after the flu.
It is also advised in smokers and people with celiac diseaseas they are at a higher risk of complications from influenza. The same is true for people with a cerebrospinal fluid fistula and a cochlear implant or those awaiting one.
It is also recommended in internship students in health and social health centres and in staff at nurseries and early childhood education centres (children under 5 years of age).
In addition, Health also recommends vaccination in people with direct occupational exposure to animals or their secretions on poultry, pig or mink farms or farms or on wildlife (birds, wild boars or mustelids), such as livestock farmers, veterinarians, farm workers, hunters, ornithologists, environmental agents, zoo staff, etc. The purpose is to reduce the opportunity for an iConcomitant infection of human and avian or porcine virusesreducing the possibility of recombination or genetic exchange between both viruses.
The Ministry of Health calls for strengthening the commitment of health personnel organizations, unions, professional associations and scientific societies
The objectives for vaccination against influenza and Covid-19 for the 2024-2025 season are to achieve or exceed vaccination coverage of 75 percent in the elderly and in health and social care personnel, as well as exceeding 60 percent in pregnant women and people with risk conditions.
The campaign will establish strategies to measure coverage in high-risk groups for complications due to special clinical conditions, and any contact with the health system should be used to establish vaccination recommendations and improve coverage in this population group.
In addition, the Ministry of Health is calling for strengthening the commitment of health personnel organizations, unions, professional associations and scientific societies to seasonal vaccination, urging them to pass on the recommendation of vaccination to their members out of ethical responsibility towards the people at risk they care for.
