Flu jabs held back

A total of 6,300 deaths could be attributed to the flu last year in Spain

THE FLU jab campaign in Valencia region starts on Monday – two weeks later than in 2018, due to the higher temperatures this autumn.

This is to ‘adapt the vaccinations to the climate’ as the outbreak of the virus now comes later in the year.

A press release from the vaccination centre (CECOVA) of the regional health department noted that the jab is designed to ‘reduce deaths associated with flu’ and ‘the impact of the illness in the region’.

Their campaign is ‘fundamentally to protect people who have a higher possibility of suffering complications if they catch the flu virus’.

At the same time they recommended that all healthcare professionals should an ‘ethical responsibility’ be- sign up for a jab. cause they attend to patients

They noted that this was who are in the risk categories and they could pass the virus on to them.

A total of 801,000 vaccines are being made available this year at health centres around the region.

These are for people aged 65 and over; pregnant women; people in ‘at risk’ categories; as well as healthcare professionals.

A CECOVA spokesman noted that there were 490,000 ‘light’ cases of flu during the 2018/2019 season; 35,300 cases which required hospital attention; and ‘6,300 deaths which could be attributed to the flu’.

The campaign in Murcia region started on Monday – a week earlier.

A total of 240,000 vaccines have been purchased.

This year premature babies who are now aged 36 months to two years old have been included and mothers should ask their paediatrician about the jab.

Regional councillor for health Manuel Villegas noted that some elderly residents are also being vaccinated against pneumococci.