For the first time, the children of 6 to 59 months of age have been vaccinated against the flu free of charge in the communities of Galicia, Murcia and Andalusia. These autonomies have been the first to incorporate the flu vaccine into the vaccination schedule for all children in this age group; recommendation that was later issued by the Ministry of Health for all autonomous communities. In this way, it is expected that starting in the 2023-2024 season, systematic child vaccination between 6 and 59 months can be carried out throughout the national territory.
“The flu has always been a much maligned disease despite its high incidence both in terms of infections and hospitalizations, which can be complicated, so it is of the utmost importance to make everyone aware of the importance of prevent this infection through vaccination”, explains Francisco Álvarez, coordinator of the Vaccine Advisory Committee of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (AEP).
Regarding the recommendation to universally vaccinate children between 6 and 59 months, Álvarez points out that the AEP has always advocated including children between 6 and 59 months as “funded risk pool” and thus favor that vaccination coverage can be achieved much widersimilar to those reached in groups of people over 65 years of age.
According to closing data from the 20th edition of The Gripometerdemographic study on influenza vaccination carried out by Sanofi in Spain, and waiting to obtain the final figures provided by the Ministry of Health, this season, Galicia Murcia and Andalusia they have reached vaccination coverage in children from 6 to 59 months of 51.3 percent, 44.3 percent and 42.2 percent respectively. The data also reflect an increase in coverage at the national level concentrated in the under 5 years, in line with the incorporation of free vaccination in these communities. The national total has grown to stand at by 18.3 percentcompared to 7.6 percent in the previous year.
In a flu season marked by a earlier epidemic threshold than usual, the underage population has led the number of flu cases, and of the nineteen outbreaks identified in the 2022-2023 season, two originated in nursery schools and schools. Federico Martinón-Torres, head and coordinator of the Pediatric Service of the Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago, assesses this situation: “The highest incidence rates of flu occur in children and the data suggest that flu prevention in children also influences the transmission chain. In fact, when there are school holidays, flu transmission decreases. For this reason, the interest in vaccinating children influences not only their direct protection, which is essential, but it can eventually influence transmission and therefore also protect unvaccinated people from other groups.”
Universal vaccination of children
Although the disease does not usually trigger serious respiratory complications in children and young people, it is occasionally extreme gravity. For this reason, Martinón-Torres recommends the universal vaccination and not only in children with risk factors: “To give us an idea, the flu hospitalization rates in children they are equivalent to those over 65 years of age, which is a group of which we do not doubt the importance and need for vaccination. If we vaccinate people over the age of 65 for the amount of income that occurs in this age group, we should also universally vaccinate young children who have a similar rate of income.”
Data from El Gripómetro also reveal that vaccination coverage in people over 65 years of age has reached 67.3 percent. By autonomous communities, La Rioja (79.4 percent) and Galicia (76.3 percent) have exceeded the target of 75 percent vaccination set by the Ministry of Health for this group in the 2022-2023 season. They are closely followed by Navarra (74.9 percent), Asturias (74.7 percent), Castilla-La Mancha (73.6 percent), Castilla-León (73.1 percent) and Andalusia (70. 8 percent).
This season adults from 60 to 64 years have also come to be considered a risk group in most of the autonomies. This situation, together with the co-administration with the Covid-19 vaccine and an increase in the recommendations of health professionals, have favored this age group has been vaccinated more than the previous year.
The commitment of health professionals and their key role in prescription
The Gripometer concludes that the main reason to get vaccinated is the recommendation by health personnel, who have intensified their prescribing effort and presents a coverage of 69.2 percent; Specifically, 69.8 percent of primary care physicians and 68.3 percent of primary care nurses have been vaccinated this year. They state that the main reasons for getting vaccinated are prevention and personal protection, as well as their family environment and patients.
something more than 45 percent of healthcare professionals They have recognized that in this campaign they have recommended flu vaccination with greater intensity than in previous years, with the aim of preventing the coverage figures from falling due to a lower incidence of Covid-19.
Although it may contain statements, data or notes from health institutions or professionals, the information contained in Redacción Médica is edited and prepared by journalists. We recommend to the reader that any health-related questions be consulted with a health professional.
