Bumper flu jab campaign
Vulnerable people and healthcare workers will be given priority
Vulnerable people and healthcare workers given priority
THE VALENCIA government is starting its annual flu vaccination programme a month earlier than last year.
Jabs will be available for vulnerable people at health centres from October 5.
Councillor for health Ana Barceló noted that the health service is now getting in touch with patients in these ‘ atrisk’ groups to inform them about the process.
She said they will be given an appointment to attend their health centre to receive the jab.
The councillor explained that this year the region has 1,276,100 vaccines available for residents in the provinces of Alicante, Valencia and Castellón – which is 465,000 more than in 2019.
Their goal is to vaccinate 75% of people over the age of 64 and healthcare workers – and 60% of people who have underlying health problems or who are pregnant.
“The campaign has been designed to prevent complications associated with flu,” stated Sra Barceló.
“This is why we are targeting groups who are most susceptible to suffer complications, along with other selected collectives.”
Sra Barceló stressed that they are not aiming to vaccinate the whole of the population.
She explained that healthcare personnel are a ‘ priority’ and will receive their jabs at the start of the campaign.
Also, people who live and work in care homes will be vaccinated during the first week.
Next week the regional health service will deliver 60% of the 810,000 jabs acquired by the Valencia government.
Then, in a second phase of the campaign, they will send the remaining 40% to health centres in the week starting on October 26.
The 446,100 vaccines purchased by the national government will be sent out in early November. The remainder will be kept in reserve.
Last year vaccinations started at the beginning of November, which was later than the previous year.
At the time the regional government stated that they had delayed the campaign ‘ because flu outbreaks were starting later in the year’.
This year the Covid19 pandemic has led to a much earlier start to try to ensure that hospitals do not have to deal with a wave of coronavirus and flu patients at the same time.
Sra Barceló noted that it is necessary to ‘ reduce pressure on the health system as much as possible’.
Flu can cause complications in people who are in the ‘ atrisk’ groups and pregnant women, she added.
“Over many years the flu vaccine has proved to be a safe and efficient tool,” noted Sra Barceló. “People who have the jab have a lower risk of suffering complications.”