The 2022-23 flu vaccination campaign in Andalusia is currently reaching similar numbers of doses administered to the previous campaign, when record figures were recorded. Today, 65.5% of people over 65 years of age have already received the flu vaccine. This figure increases in the case of Andalusians over 80 years of age, which exceeds 74%.
“As we warned, respiratory viruses, such as RSV and influenza, have moved forward and are already circulating in Andalusia. With the drop in temperatures, the incidence is increasing. It is important that the over 65s, children between 6 and 59 months, as well as the rest of the vulnerable groups – pregnant women, chronically ill or immunosuppressed patients, health and socio-health workers – protect themselves with the flu vaccine,” say the Regional Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs.
Flu vaccination coverage in the over-65s by province is currently 59.7% in Almeria; 54.7% in Cadiz; 69.7% in Cordoba; 62.9% in Granada; 61.2% in Huelva; 71.1% in Jaen; 53.1% in Malaga and 61% in Seville.
In the case of the childhood influenza vaccine, for children between 6 and 59 months -4 years and 11 months-, the percentage is 33.2%. The childhood flu vaccine is the main novelty introduced by the Regional Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs, through the Directorate General for Public Health and Pharmaceutical Organisation, in the 2022-23 campaign.
It is worth highlighting the important role that children play in the transmission of the influenza virus to the rest of the population, with transmission to the most vulnerable population always being the most worrying. Children are the age group that always has the highest incidence of influenza, as they have had the least contact with the virus. The children’s flu vaccine is particularly relevant this campaign after two seasons with the important measures of social distancing and individual protection that the population has followed, above all, the use of masks.
“We call on parents and guardians of children between 6 months and 4 years and 11 months to have them vaccinated. We are seeing an increase in the incidence of respiratory viruses. That’s why we are urging them to vaccinate their children. The vaccine is safe and effective.
As for the second Covid booster dose, coverage in the over-60s now stands at 48.7% and in the over-80s at 69.3%. “We appreciate the exercise of responsibility of all Andalusians who have protected themselves against influenza and Covid. SARS-CoV-2 is still among us, so we must continue to be prudent, with protective measures such as masks in situations that are still mandatory and when we feel that we have respiratory symptoms, with safety distance and hand washing,” they conclude.