A new white paper sets out 14 recommendations for flu prevention in Spain. It links vaccination coverage with access, coordination and protection for people at higher risk.
The paper was presented on October 30 by members of the GRIPEXPERT group. Its full title is "Libro Blanco de la Gripe en España 2026-2027: Recomendaciones, evidencias y retos".
Spain will use the framework ahead of the 2026/2027 season. It sets out fourteen recommendations and puts vulnerable people, vaccination coverage and equity at the centre of the plan.
The document also examines how vaccination is organised, explained to the public and assessed across the country. It looks beyond one campaign or one measure.
Spain’s official vaccination targets include coverage of at least 75% among people aged 60 and over and pregnant women, and at least 60% among healthcare and social-care workers and children aged 6–59 months.
Eight areas structure the framework: disease burden and health impact; vulnerable populations; vaccination coverage; improved vaccines; vaccination organisation; communication and governance; equity, resilience and investment.
That structure matters. Prevention is treated as a chain of decisions, not as an isolated vaccination drive.
One priority is direct protection for people who need it most. The paper also calls for fair access, long-term investment and closer tracking of influenza's burden.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control maintains weekly European surveillance of respiratory viruses, including influenza, RSV and SARS-CoV-2. This provides a broader reference point for assessing seasonal severity and comparing Spain’s situation with other European countries.
The recommendations call for better evidence on health outcomes and preventive measures. They also stress the role of healthcare professionals in finding people at high risk, sharing good practices and improving coordination.
Vaccination gets its own section. The authors look at coverage levels, improved vaccines and the practical organisation of delivery. The tools matter. So does the way people reach them.
Spain's 2026/2027 rollout is already taking shape. The Ministry of Health lists older people, young children, pregnant women, people with chronic conditions and healthcare personnel among the priority groups.
Autonomous communities are launching their programmes between late September and October. That schedule puts the white paper inside the country's existing seasonal system.
Andalusia began its campaign on October 1. The first groups included children, pregnant women, residents of institutions and social-care workers. The region also uses high-dose vaccine for some older people.
Madrid began on October 5. Its phased campaign started with vulnerable groups, then extended access to other target groups. The programme may continue until January 31, 2027.
Regional plans show how the strategy reaches people. Dates, eligibility rules and local delivery all shape access.
Communication and governance are another part of the plan. The document connects medical prevention with public information, professional involvement and clear responsibility between institutions.
Several autonomous communities are also using schools as vaccination points or as part of outreach to children and adolescents. The wider goal is easier access through appointment systems, school-based services and direct contact with families.
The Spanish debate also includes wider respiratory infection concerns, including the earlier COVID report. This white paper is focused specifically on influenza and sets its own prevention priorities.
The practical demands are clear. Protecting high-risk people requires identification and outreach. Measuring prevention requires health-outcome evidence. Keeping the system working requires investment, coordination and the exchange of practices.
The campaign is not only about giving more injections. Regional health authorities also want to reduce hospitalisations and deaths among vulnerable people. Coverage targets are a tool for reducing severe outcomes.
That is the paper's central point. Flu prevention depends on vaccines, access, communication and follow-up. Spain's 2026/2027 agenda now has fourteen defined priorities, with protection directed first towards the people most at risk.
