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Date Published: 14/10/2021
ARCHIVED - The first in Spain: flu vaccinations start early in Andalusia as experts fear stronger strain
1.6 million extra-strong flu vaccines are being prepared in Andalucía as Covid measures may have made us more susceptible to the common flu
The 2021 flu vaccination programme has started in elderly care homes in Andalucía today, Thursday October 14. This year, a “higher incidence” rate of flu is expected in comparison with last year due to relaxed social distancing measures.
Andalucía is the first Autonomous Community in Spain to start its flu campaign this year, according to the Regional Minister for Health and Families, Jesús Aguirre, and there are more than 1.6 million doses in stock ready to be administered.
Vaccinations have begun with the 45,014 elderly residents of Andalusian care homes, who the minister described as the “weakest link” in the epidemiological chain, and will then progress to include the 7,567 people living in the region’s disability centres. At the same time, flu vaccines will be given to staff in the health sector and nursing home workers.
From next Monday, October 18, over-65s, people with chronic pathologies and pregnant women will also be able to get their annual flu jab. Likewise, from November 2, vaccination will be given to people marked as “essential”, such as carers of disabled dependents, providing there are enough doses left.
Stronger flu vaccines
All the vaccines being given out by the Junta de Andalucía this year are “tetravalent” with “two strains of influenza A and two of B”, the first time that these vaccines have been administered in Andalucía. Not only that, but “a greater quantity of substance” will also be administered to ensure that the body “manufactures more antibodies”.
These measures are in response to a particularly hard flu season ahead, since the virus will bounce back strong after two years with hardly any influenza.
Pneumonia vaccines
Meanwhile, vaccines for pneumonia will also be administered due to an increase in respiratory viruses now we are “closer together”. There will be 1,600 vaccination points throughout Andalucía for the general population, mainly in health centres, and appointments will be spaced out by about four minutes to avoid crowds.
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