Vaccination begins simultaneously against the flu and Covid-19 (booster dose) in health centers, hospitals and nursing homes, as well as in other authorized spaces.
The Minister of Health, Mónica García, will present the campaign at 10:30 a.m., which coincides with the release by the World Health Organization (WHO) of recommendations on the viral composition of influenza vaccines for the 2025 influenza season in the south. hemisphere.
In the case of influenza, the new campaign will continue until January 31, unless its extension is necessary for epidemiological reasons. The emphasis will be placed on the dual protection of people over 60 and at-risk groups of all ages, such as the chronically ill and pregnant women, the regional executive said in a press release a week ago.
Furthermore, for the second consecutive year in the region, the Ministry of Health recommends vaccinating children against the flu. children between six months and five years old. For influenza, the Regional Executive has purchased more than 1.5 million doses, including 75,000 intranasal doses for children aged two to four years.
Defense against rotavirus
For its part, and as established in the Vaccination and Immunization Calendar, since October 1, the defense against rotavirus to all infants. In this first campaign, it will concern people born since August 1st. It will be applied, orally, by nursing professionals in the first level care systems of the Madrid public health system and in the rest of the authorized centers.
This measure cost the Community 19.2 million over the next three years. The aim is to protect against serious illness and hospitalization in the first months of life, as rotavirus is the leading cause of severe childhood diarrhea worldwide and affects virtually all children up to the age of five. , especially during the first two months.
Respiratory syncytal virus
Added to all this is immunization against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which causes, among other infections, bronchiolitis. 50,000 babies will be protected during the campaign which began on October 1. Last year, the Community of Madrid was one of the first regions to integrate this preventive action, administering 44,116 doses and achieving coverage of 87 percent of the target population.
Compared to the previous season, cases of RSV infections decreased by 65 percentwhile there was a decrease of more than 90 percent in hospitalizations of patients less than a year old. Vaccination against bronchiolitis will require an appointment at nine public hospitals: 12 de Octubre, Infantil Niño Jesús, Gregorio Marañón and La Paz in the capital; Iron Gate-Majadahonda; To the southeast, in Arganda del Rey; Mostoles; Infanta Cristina de Parla and Henares, in Coslada.
Human papillomavirus
Likewise, the Community of Madrid continues the campaign to recruit men aged 13 to 18 to promote vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV). To date, only women under 18 have been included. It is estimated that with this initiative it will achieve 150,000 men.
This initiative began to be applied in the region in 2008 with the objective of prevent cervical cancer, exclusively in women. In 2023, following the recommendations of the Public Health Commission of the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System, the Autonomous Administration modified the objective of this program, now also protecting men.
