The General Director of Public Health of the Canary Islands Health Service (SCS), José Díaz-Flores, the head of the Epidemiological Surveillance and Prevention Unit, Álvaro Torres, and the pediatrician and technician of the Vaccine Program of this General Directorate, Abián Montesdeoca, presented this morning the vaccination campaign against flu and covid for the 2024-25 season, which will begin in all health centers of the archipelago tomorrow, Tuesday, October 15, and which incorporates substantial novelties compared to previous campaigns.
The heads of the General Directorate of Public Health detailed the planned operation, the different types of vaccines that will be available to face this season and the information campaign on the target population to which it is directed. The SCS has acquired a total of 295,000 doses of vaccine to face this 2024-25 flu season, with a total investment of 2,151,056 euros.
José Díaz-Flores pointed out that "this year we continue in the situation of coexistence of covid with other seasonal viral infections such as influenza, so vaccination of the most vulnerable groups and essential professionals for the community continues to be essential."
Childhood vaccination
Likewise, he informed that this season continues with the objective of vaccinating the child population against influenza and, in this sense, he specified that minors will be vaccinated in their health center as last year but, as a novelty, vaccination is included in public schools, to facilitate access to vaccination, favor family reconciliation and increase vaccine coverage.
The initiative follows the trend that is being applied in other autonomous communities that this year will immunize children between three and four years old in classrooms with an intranasal serum, provided that their parents have signed the informed consent.
Avoid risks
Álvaro Torres insisted that the vaccine is the most effective means to avoid contracting or transmitting the flu, especially in those people who are at risk of suffering complications in case of suffering the disease and in the personnel that is essential for the community such as health and caregivers of the elderly or dependents.
To face this season there will be four types of vaccines, as explained by Abián Montesdeoca, which are aimed at the target population over 6 months. 173,170 doses have been acquired, which has meant an investment of 637,265 euros. Also to the target population over 24 months. 64,830 doses have been acquired with a total amount of 499,191 euros. To the institutionalized elderly population and people with a high level of dependence in their home; over 60 years old. 27,000 doses have been acquired, which has meant an investment of 459,000 euros.
Also to boys and girls between two and five years of age (59 months), and can be used in patients between five and fourteen years of age, inclusive, with underlying disease that do not have it contraindicated. 30,000 doses have been acquired for which 555,600 euros have been invested.
Seasonal vaccination recommendations 2024-2025
Each year, recommendations for vaccination against influenza are established in autumn-winter for those population groups with a higher risk of complications in case of suffering the infection, and in people who can transmit the disease to others who have a high risk of complications.
Since the 2021-2022 season, vaccination against influenza has coincided with vaccination against covid. The objective of vaccination against coronavirus is to reinforce the protection of the most vulnerable people and that of health and social health personnel to reduce morbidity and mortality from the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the impact of this disease on the capacity of care of essential services for the community.
Flu / covid vaccination
Taking into account the current epidemiological situation of covid, vaccination is recommended during the autumn-winter season (2024-2025) to the following population groups to avoid risk of complications or serious conditions in people aged 60 or over, from five years or more, internal in care centers for people with disabilities and nursing homes, as well as other people institutionalized for a long time and residents in closed institutions and under 60 years with chronic diseases.
Also pregnant women in any trimester of gestation and women during the puerperium (up to six months after delivery), people with a high degree of immunosuppression, with people with other diseases of greater risk and with older people, personnel of health centers and establishments (including pharmacies) and public and private social health (both health and non-health personnel) and people who work in essential public services, with special emphasis on the following subgroups: National, regional and local Security Forces and Corps, Armed Forces, firefighters and Civil Protection Services.
Vaccination against influenza
In addition to the previous groups, vaccination against influenza is also recommended for the child population between six and 59 months (5 years) of age, smokers of any age, people between five and 59 years with a higher risk of complications derived from influenza, those who are between five and 18 years old and are in prolonged treatment with acetylsalicylic acid (inactivated vaccine), cohabitants of people at risk.
Students in internships in health centers and establishments (including pharmacies) and social health. People with direct occupational exposure to animals or their secretions on farms or poultry, pig or mink farms or to wildlife (birds, wild boars or mustelids), such as farmers, veterinarians, farm workers, hunters, ornithologists, environmental agents, zoo personnel, etc.
The purpose of vaccination of these groups is to reduce the opportunity for concomitant infection of human and avian or porcine virus, reducing the possibility of recombination or genetic exchange between both viruses.
Informative campaign
The information campaign that will be disseminated in digital media, social networks, shift screens in hospitals and health centers, LED screens in the urban environment and radio stations, to remember which are the population groups that are at risk of suffering complications in case of contracting influenza or covid, and that they should be vaccinated.
