Smokers in the Region of Murcia included in flu jab priority groups
The autumn/winter vaccination campaign kicks off across the Region this week
The 2023 flu vaccination campaign begins in the Region of Murcia on Monday October 9 and for the first time ever, smokers have been included as a risk group and will be some of the first to be offered the joint influenza and Covid jabs.
As with previous years, the seasonal vaccination against respiratory infections will comprise both a flu jab and a specially adapted vaccine against Covid and will first be administered to nursing and disability home residents and those working in the health and social care sector.
While this is happening, the jabs will also be offered to unvaccinated children between 6 and 59 months of age who are currently enrolled in school or pre-school.
It’s expected that everyone from the initial group will be immunised by October 16 so from then, the combo-vaccine will be made available to everyone over the age of 80, as well as any remaining health workers and essential personnel.
Beginning on October 30, the flu jab will be opened up to people over the age of 60 and the rest of the at-risk and priority groups, such as pregnant women.
People in non-priority groups will be able to get vaccinated at the end of the campaign.
For this autumn/winter season, the regional health authorities have purchased 391,000 doses of flu vaccine, 10,000 more than last year, and the entire campaign is expected to cost 2,385,000 euros.
The Minister of Health, Juan José Pedreño, urged all at-risk groups to avail themselves of the jab, explaining that "flu vaccination and the administration of seasonal doses of vaccine adapted against Covid-19 is the most effective preventive measure to prevent suffering from these infections and, above all, their complications."
He has also stressed that "you must get vaccinated every year, since the composition of the vaccine adapts to the antigenic changes of the circulating viruses expected in the season."
Image: Freepik
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