The Health Department of the Government of Navarra will begin the joint vaccination campaign against influenza and COVID-19 on October 14 and, to this end, it calls on the population aged 60 or over (more than 185,000 people in Navarre) and those who suffer from diseases considered high risk (more than 7,500) to be vaccinated against these viruses respiratory.
The objective of this vaccination, as stated by the Institute of Public and Occupational Health of Navarra (ISPLN) in its latest bulletin, is to strengthen the protection of the most vulnerable people and health and social personnel to reduce morbidity and mortality and the impact of these diseases on the level of care.
The campaign will continue until November 29, although after this date the people who meet the criteria (new pregnant women, new patients with risk factors, international travelers included in risk groups) or who could not be immunized during the initially fixed period.
HOW TO REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT
The appointment can be requested from October 3 to November 29 in three ways: preferably, via the Personal health record For people over 60, by calling the appointment telephone number of their health center or office from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or in person at their primary care center.
This week, the progressive shipment of SMS to the target population, prioritizing older age groups (people aged 80 and over), so that they can manage their appointment. People registered in the Personal Health File diaries will receive a reminder two days in advance with the date, time and place of vaccination.
The campaign for the vaccination of health workers Navarrese Health Service (SNS) It will also begin on October 14, upon receipt of SMS to proceed with the request for an appointment in health centers, centralized points in the zones or, if necessary, at the corresponding hospital center.
WHO SHOULD BE VACCINATED
The main objective of this campaign is to reduce morbidity and mortality due to flu and COVID-19 in the population through the vaccination of the most vulnerable groups of people and those in whom the flu may have a greater impact on health, as indicated by the government.
Thus, health authorities recommend joint vaccination a: -people aged 60 or over; people aged 5 years or older in centers for disabled people, retirement homes and residents of closed institutions; people aged 5 to 59 years with risk conditions such as, for example, diabetes mellitus and Cushing’s syndrome, morbid obesity, chronic cardiovascular, neurological, respiratory, renal diseases, coagulation disorders, immunosuppression or cancer and diseases causing cognitive dysfunction (Down syndrome, dementia, etc.), among other risky pathologies.
Pregnant women in any trimester of pregnancy and up to 6 months after delivery (if they were not vaccinated during pregnancy); people living with people with a high degree of immunosuppression, staff of public and private health and socio-sanitary centers and establishments; And basic or essential public service workers (State security forces and bodies, as well as armed forces, firefighters and civil protection services).
Furthermore, the flu vaccine is also recommended for children. between 6 and 59 monthssmokers, suffering from celiac disease, cerebrospinal fluid fistula and cochlear implant or waiting, patients aged 5 to 18 years old who are receiving prolonged treatment with acetylsalicylic acid, students doing internships in health and socio-sanitary centers, as well as staff from daycare centers or education centers of the early childhood or having direct occupational exposure to animals or their secretions on farms or other types of operations.
In the infant population between 6 months and 11 years old, Vaccination against Covid will be a priority to people who are at greater risk of severe covid and their cohabitants, such as those who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, certain primary and acquired immunodeficiencies including cancer and those receiving immunosuppressive treatments, chronic cardiovascular diseases serious chronic respiratory diseases and serious neurological or neuromuscular diseases.
People with an indication for vaccination against the flu and against COVID-19 They will be able to receive both vaccines simultaneously. The COVID-19 vaccine can be inoculated provided that more than 3 months have passed since the last administration or since the last infection.
OBJECTIVE: THAT 75% OF THE POPULATION OVER 60 YEARS OLD BE VACCINATED
The objectives set by the ISPLN for this campaign are to achieve a vaccination coverage against influenza and COVID-19 75% in the population over 60, with particular emphasis on people living in institutions, and 60% among pregnant women and people with risk conditions.
Likewise, it aims to increase the flu vaccination coverage among health and social care personnel and in the population aged 6 months to 5 years.
During the previous campaign, a total of 161,523 doses of flu vaccine. In the population aged 65 to 74, coverage reached 64.4%, while among those over 74 it rose to 75.2%. In the population of children under 5 years old, it amounted to 40.5%; among pregnant women, 57.4%; and in health personnel, 37.42%.
Coverage against COVID-19, for its part, was lower than that of the flu. Among people aged 60 to 64, 34.5% was obtained; among those aged 65 to 74, 55.4%; and among those over 74, 69.2%.
As the ISPLN recalls, the vaccination against flu and COVID-19 They have proven effective in preventing serious forms, reducing the risk of hospitalization and the possibility of developing serious pathologies in vulnerable people. Thus, in the results of the 2023-2024 campaign, produced by ISPLNThe flu vaccine was found to be moderately effective (40%), having avoided some 240 hospitalizations in Navarre. The Covid vaccine also showed moderate effectiveness (46%) in preventing admissions due to this infection, and is estimated to have prevented around 80 hospitalizations.
OTHER PREVENTIVE MEASURES
Furthermore, the ISPLN recommends that vaccination be complemented by other preventive measures, such as avoiding contact with people with symptoms of respiratory infection and, if this is not possible, using a mask. Also, for minimize the risk of infectionit is recommended to use a mask in areas with a high concentration of people, opt for outdoor activities or spaces with natural ventilation and wash your hands.
On the other hand, to reduce transmission chains, it is It is important that people with respiratory symptoms wear a maskwash their hands frequently and reduce their social activities, especially with the most vulnerable people, the Executive added.
