Galicia’s combined flu and Covid immunisation campaign begins on September 28, with an expanded school programme and stronger protection for some older adults. The Xunta will make around 825,000 doses available during the campaign. Vaccinations will begin in care homes and disability centres, then extend progressively to other groups.
The basic change for older people is that high-dose flu vaccination will now cover those aged 65 to 69. The formula was already offered to people over 70 last year, after the Galflu trial found it had greater capacity to reduce flu-related hospitalisations among participants aged 80 and above.
Schools will take on a larger role in the campaign.
The programme will cover 75 education centres this year, 20 more than in the previous campaign, across the region’s urban and less densely populated areas. That includes semi-urban and rural communities. The target population will grow to 26,500 pupils, approximately 7,500 more children than last year.
In the previous campaign, 9,668 pupils were vaccinated at 55 centres, and coverage reached 51 percent. The Xunta will continue to offer flu vaccination to children from six months to 11 years old. For children aged two to 11, the preferred option will be the nasal vaccine, which avoids an injection.
The 75 percent coverage target is part of a broader prevention strategy. ABC reports that people in risk groups will receive proactive invitations by SMS. If they do not attend, the campaign plans to follow up with a message or telephone call to encourage vaccination.
Vaccination for children at health centres and participating schools is scheduled to start on October 13. The campaign will continue at health centres and care homes, while home visits will reach people who are immobilised.
