The cold season has begun and it is time to prepare against the seasonal diseases such as COVID-19 and influenza, that is why the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) announced the vaccination campaign for this year.
Through a statement, the IMSS reported that it will participate in the sectoral vaccination campaign against seasonal influenza and COVID-19, in which it will apply more than 20 million doses.
When does the vaccination campaign against COVID-19 and influenza begin?
The coordinator of Medical Programs, Enrique Alcalá Martínez, announced that the vaccination campaign for the 2024-2025 winter season will begin next October 15 and will conclude on March 28, 2025.
“The objective of these two vaccines is to prevent severe forms and death from these diseases,” he stressed.
He explained that Social Security plans to apply 12.7 million doses of influenza vaccine and 7.6 million against COVID-19.
“When a person does not receive these immunizations, they can present serious complications such as pneumonia, respiratory distress, severe lung disease and heart damage, which leads to hospitalization,” the official said.
Where will the vaccines be applied?
He IMSS He pointed out that as this is a sectoral campaign, the vaccines will be offered free of charge in First Level medical units, PrevenIMSS modules, daycare centers and in vaccination posts that are located. will be installed in shopping centers, among others, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
In addition, vaccination brigades will be formed that will carry out activities outside the medical units, to identify people in need of vaccination who meet the requirements.
He recalled that the vaccination campaign is aimed at the entire population, whether eligible or not.
Who will be able to get vaccinated against influenza and COVID-19?
The IMSS highlighted that in the vaccination against seasonal influenza, priority will be given to children from six months to five years old and people aged 60 years and over, also susceptible to suffering from the disease, since their immune system does not adequately protect against this disease.
He added that another group that requires the influenza vaccine It is the population between five and 59 years of age with diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, obesity, HIV, among others.
In the case of the COVID-19 vaccine, the coordinator of IMSS Medical Programs, Enrique Alcalá Martínez, explained that this will be aimed at the population between five and 59 years of age who have not received any dose of the vaccine or who have any risk factors, such as diabetes, lung or heart disease, health care workers and people living with HIV, as well as adults age 60 and older.
In this campaign, the patient will also be able to update their vaccination schedule, with emphasis on pneumococcus, mainly in the population aged 60 years and over who are susceptible to having diseases due to this cause.
He highlighted that the application of These vaccines can be simultaneous, Well, there is no contraindication in this regard.
He recalled that people who are vaccinated may have secondary reactions to injection such as pain and redness at the application site, as well as discomfort when moving the arm, effects that only last between 24 and 48 hours.
