Flu Shot Success: High Turnout at Zaragoza Vaccination Event
A walk-in flu and COVID-19 vaccination event in Zaragoza, Spain, is proving a resounding success, with a steady stream of people taking advantage of the chance to get immunized. Organized by the Department of Health and the Aragonese health Service, the event is efficiently administering vaccines at a rate of approximately one per minute.
Held at the Nuestra Señora de Gracia Hospital from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., the vaccination drive is open to all Aragonese citizens. The convenient location, near the hospital entrance on Ramón y Cajal street, is contributing to the high turnout.
Belén Sanz,technical advisor of the Nursing Area of the Aragonese Health Service,reported on the positive response. “People of all ages are coming,who due to circumstances have not been able to get vaccinated in their health centers and are taking advantage of this day,” she explained. The inclusion of children, accompanied by parents, is particularly noteworthy, highlighting the importance of vaccinating young children against the flu. This aligns with World Health Institution recommendations and practices in over 70 countries, including Spain.
The impact of childhood flu vaccination is evident in the data. In Aragon, flu-related hospital emergencies in children under five decreased from 856 in the 2022-2023 season to 561 in the following year. This notable drop is attributed, in part, to increased vaccination rates. Last year, 43.6% of Aragonese children aged six months to four years and eleven months received the flu vaccine—eight percentage points higher than the national average.
Sanz expressed her satisfaction with the event’s success. “We are very happy, the event is being very well received, with a lot of attendance,” she stated. The staggered arrival of attendees ensures minimal wait times. While both flu and COVID-19 vaccines are available, the majority of vaccinations administered are for influenza, reflecting a lower number of individuals in the high-risk groups requiring COVID-19 vaccination.
This prosperous vaccination event serves as a model for efficient and effective community-based immunization programs. The high turnout underscores the public’s recognition of the importance of flu and COVID-19 vaccination in protecting individual and community health.
Aragon Improves Access to Flu and COVID-19 Vaccines for High-Risk Groups
The Aragonese Health service in Spain has launched a new initiative to make flu and COVID-19 vaccinations more accessible to individuals at higher risk of complications. This streamlined process, implemented in collaboration with nursing staff, aims to protect vulnerable populations through increased vaccination rates.
The program, which began on November 30th, initially focused on high-risk individuals recommended for flu vaccination. It has since expanded to include those recommended for COVID-19 vaccination as well. “The good reception the event is having” is a testament to the program’s success, according to Belén Sanz (Note: Source for quote not provided, needs verification).
Who is Eligible for vaccination?
Individuals aged 60 and older, along with those with underlying health conditions such as diabetes, morbid obesity, and chronic cardiovascular, neurological, or respiratory diseases, are strongly encouraged to receive both the flu and COVID-19 vaccines. This initiative prioritizes protecting those most vulnerable to severe illness.
The vaccination program also extends to pregnant women and postpartum women (up to six months after delivery, if not vaccinated during pregnancy), individuals living with severely immunosuppressed people, healthcare and social health center personnel, and essential public service workers, including security forces, firefighters, and civil protection personnel.
Flu vaccination is also recommended for children aged 6 to 59 months (under 5 years), daycare and early childhood education center staff, healthcare and social health center interns, smokers, and individuals with direct occupational exposure to animals or their secretions on poultry, swine, mink, or wildlife farms.
Required Documentation
To receive the vaccine, individuals should bring their health card or national identification document (DNI). If neither is available, the regional identification code (beginning with “AR” followed by several digits) is acceptable. this code can be found on the health card or, for infants, on the heel prick test letter. If none of these documents are available, a form will be completed to ensure the vaccination is recorded in the individual’s medical history.
This initiative highlights Aragon’s commitment to public health and proactive measures to protect its citizens during flu and COVID-19 seasons. The efficient vaccination process, with reports suggesting a vaccination rate of one per minute, demonstrates the effectiveness of the program’s design and implementation.
