MADRID, 10 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Community of Madrid will begin the vaccination campaign for the fall and winter season next October, immunizing babies up to 6 months old against the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), the traditional campaign against the flu, which incorporates minors, and the administration of the third booster dose against Covid-19 for risk groups.
This same Tuesday, the 12th, the Public Health Commission, in which all the Autonomous Communities and the Ministry of Health are represented, will address the updating of the criteria for the next vaccination campaign against flu and Covid-19.
In the case of the Community of Madrid, which is finalizing its organization, it is planned that on October 1, immunization against the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), which causes bronchiolitis and pneumonia, will begin for babies up to six months old, born starting in April of this year.
In this sense, the Community has acquired 50,000 doses of the vaccine that immunizes infants against bronchiolitis, with an investment of 10.8 million euros. RSV is a common and contagious seasonal pathogen that infects the lower respiratory tract, causing annual epidemics throughout the world and most frequently affecting infants.
Generally, case detection increases starting in October, reaching its epidemic peak between December and January. In Spain, 78% of severe cases of bronchiolitis are caused by RSV and it is estimated that almost 10% of healthy hospitalized children require intensive care.
In the Community of Madrid, the highest incidence figures, both of episodes of bronchiolitis in Primary Care and of urgent admissions, occur in children under 2 years of age, especially in the first year of life.
Specifically, vaccination will start on October 1 and is intended for those born on or after April 1. In the case of those born between that date and September 30, it will be carried out, by self-appointment, in five public hospitals.
For their part, those born from October 1 to March 31 will receive immunization in the maternity wards of all public hospitals, before discharge or by self-appointment.
FLU CAMPAIGN
Regarding the next 2023/2024 flu campaign, as a novelty on this occasion it will also reach the child population between 6 months and 59 months (4 years and 11 months of age) for the first time. In this case, both for adults and for this age group for minors, it will begin in the second half of October.
In the case of adults, it will be aimed at people over 60 years of age and people included in risk groups. This last group includes chronically ill people, pregnant women, health professionals, social health workers, caregivers and essential services personnel, among others.
As on other occasions, it will be carried out in local health centers and clinics of the Community of Madrid, health centers of the City Council, the Vaccination Center of the Community of Madrid and other authorized vaccination points. In the case of the elderly, it can also be carried out in nursing homes.
The regional government has acquired 1.6 million doses of flu vaccine, with an investment of 18.9 million euros, an amount that would cover the needs of the population to which it is directed, taking into account that during the previous campaign was administered to 1.4 million citizens in the region.
According to data from the latest epidemiological bulletin of the Ministry of Health, 40,791 cases of flu have been recorded so far this year, compared to the 11,893 registered in the same period of 2022.
In the last week, from August 28 to September 3, the number of flu cases reported through the EDO Surveillance System (Notifiable Diseases) was 71 cases, 12 more compared to the previous week. In this way, the number of accumulated cases for the 2022/2023 season amounts to 58,916 cases.
COVID BOOSTER DOSE
Also coinciding with the start of this flu vaccination campaign, the third booster dose against Covid-19 will also begin to be administered for risk groups. That is, for people over 60 years of age, chronically ill people and social-health personnel.
In this case, the latest official data from the Ministry of Health point to a continued increase in the number of cases in recent weeks until reaching 232.1 cases of accumulated incidence at 14 days per 100,000 inhabitants, with 2,065 cases in older 60 years old in the region from August 28 to September 3, 23.8% more than the previous week.
Immunization will be carried out in local health centers and clinics, nursing homes, City Hall health centers, the Vaccination Center of the Community of Madrid and other authorized vaccination points.
In the specific case of social-health personnel (seniors’ homes and dependency centers) and for mutual benefit members, an exclusive point for Covid will also be enabled at the Zendal Hospital.
The report with the ‘Vaccination recommendations against flu and Covid-19 in the 2023-2024 season in Spain’, published almost two months ago and carried out taking into account the epidemiological situation at that time, recommends vaccination against Covid-19 in the autumn-winter season (2023-2024) to the target population groups, and excludes the child and adult population that is not part of the target population.
Last year, due to the synergistic effect observed between the flu virus and SARSCoV-2 – multiplying by two the risk of death in case of co-infection – a special emphasis was placed on increasing vaccination coverage against the virus. flu, especially in health and social health personnel, older people, especially over 65 years of age, and those of any age with risk conditions.
The objective of this campaign is to protect the people most vulnerable to the flu, reducing its incidence in the target groups as much as possible and helping to reduce the impact on healthcare pressure.
2023-09-10 10:29:00
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