FLU AND COVID-19 VACCINATION CAMPAIGN

The flu is a highly contagious viral disease that causes epidemics every year. Vaccination is a safe and effective measure to protect against the disease. Annual vaccination campaigns are mainly focused on those people who are more likely to contract the flu.

This year, the vaccination campaign also includes flu vaccination and the administration of booster doses against COVID-19 for certain groups of people.

Why get vaccinated?

• To protect myself
• To protect others
• To avoid overloading the healthcare system

CHILDHOOD FLU VACCINATION CAMPAIGN

One of the most relevant new developments for this campaign in the Andalusia region is the systematic flu vaccination of children between 6 months and 4 years and 11 months of age. This vaccine can be administered at the same time as other vaccines included in the vaccination schedule.

This measure has been implemented following the recommendations made by the World Health Organization (WHO), due to the significant disease burden they may have, as well as their transmission capacity.

HOW TO GET AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE FLU VACCINATION?

The channels for requesting an appointment to get vaccinated will depend on each autonomous community, although the most common methods are through:

• The health organisation’s app in each community.

• Contact telephone number.

• Contacting your health centre.

In many cases, it will not be necessary to request an appointment for vaccination, as vaccines will be administered as part of the usual healthcare follow-up.

WHEN DOES THE VACCINATION CAMPAIGN START?

The vaccination start dates may vary from one autonomous community to another, although generally the vaccination campaign begins at the beginning of October and lasts until the end of the year.

Below, we explain the usual vaccination order:

• People over 80 years old, people living in nursing homes, healthcare professionals and social care professionals.

• People from 65 years of age, people between 12 and 65 years of age with chronic conditions, and pregnant women. People who have any of the risk conditions included in the campaign objectives may request an appointment through the usual channels and at health centres.

• Other essential professional groups (armed forces, police forces, etc.).

• Home caregivers and household members living with people over 65 years old or people at risk (depending on vaccine availability).