EDITORIAL.- Madrid plans for nurses to immunize some 50,000 babies against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). In addition, this Monday the flu and Covid campaign began, which will end on January 31, 2025, and for which the purchase of more than 1.5 million doses has been planned, including 75,000 intranasal for children between 2 and 4 years old.
From the Official College of Nursing of Madrid (Codem) an immediate reinforcement of nurses is requested, to be able to face this coverage with all the necessary guarantees and agility before the beginning of immunization against the currently active campaigns, at a time of exceptional healthcare pressure.
Nurse ratio in Madrid
Currently, according to the latest data corresponding to the year 2023, The nurse ratio per 1,000 inhabitants of Madrid stood at 6.58compared to the European Union average of 8.27 nurses per 1,000 inhabitants.
Thus, we ask the Administration to take measures as soon as possible to alleviate the lack of nurses in the Community of Madrida particularly worrying situation, which means that the already insufficient Primary Care nurses are forced to block appointments from their diaries intended to care for their patients, to dedicate that time to vaccinating the population.
“We emphasize the importance of vaccination, since we cannot forget that vaccines save lives, improving the health of the population and preventing hospital admissions,” they explain from Codem.
Who should be vaccinated?
Regarding the flu and COVID-19, initially This vaccine is recommended for people over 65 years of age.; children between 6 months and 5 years, and groups considered at risk of any age, such as chronically ill people and pregnant women.
Furthermore, it is necessary to take into account the immunization against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)which causes, among other infections, bronchiolitis and whose campaign began last October 1.
It is worth remembering that in the Community of Madrid the recruitment campaign for men between 13 and 18 years old to promote vaccination against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). It is estimated that this initiative will reach 150,000 men.
The Codem encourages citizens to consult with their reference nurse at the Health Centeras responsible for the vaccination campaign.
