Galicia will launch its combined flu and Covid vaccination campaign on September 28. More schools will offer vaccinations, while people aged 60 and over will be targeted through a stronger drive to increase coverage.
Galicia will launch its combined flu and Covid immunisation campaign 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 before being extended progressively to other groups.
The main change for older people is the extension of high-dose flu vaccination to those aged 65 to 69. The formula was already offered to people over 70 last year, after the Galflu trial found that it had a greater capacity to reduce flu-related hospitalisations among participants aged 80 and above.
The official goal is to reach 75% vaccination coverage among people aged 60 and over during the campaign.
Schools will also 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 urban, semi-urban and rural areas. 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, with coverage reaching 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.
Invitations for people in risk groups will be sent proactively by SMS. If someone does not attend, the campaign plans a follow-up message or telephone call to encourage vaccination.
The 75 percent coverage target forms part of a broader prevention strategy. ABC reports that the authorities will use direct invitations to help eligible residents access vaccination through the campaign network.
Vaccination for children at health centres and participating schools is scheduled to start on October 13. The campaign will also continue in health centres, care homes and through home visits for people who are immobilised.
