Health Minister Ángel Sanz visited the Delicias Sur health center in Zaragoza to mark the start of this phase and received both vaccines there. "Vaccination is the main preventive strategy against influenza," he said, stressing that it helps reduce severe illness and complications in people with chronic conditions.
There are around 319,000 people aged between 60 and 80 in Aragon. During last year's campaign, flu vaccination coverage stood at around 45.6% in this group, well below the 72% recorded among people over 80. This gap has led Public Health officials to step up efforts to promote vaccination among younger people in this age bracket.
HEALTH AUTHORITIES AIM TO INCREASE COVERAGE AMONG PEOPLE AGED 60 TO 70
Sanz acknowledged that people become more willing to get vaccinated as they grow older and that those aged between 60 and 70 still have a lower perception of risk. To reverse this situation, the Health Department has launched a specific campaign featuring outdoor advertising, media coverage, social media and information materials at healthcare centers.
Flu and COVID vaccination can be administered simultaneously. Nursing coordinator Amparo Jarque explained that the response has been positive and that appointments are filling up normally. "People are coming in, the nursing staff is working at full capacity and there is no waiting list," she said regarding the campaign's operation.
Jarque also noted that there is slightly more reluctance toward the COVID vaccine than the flu vaccine, although this remains a minority view. As she explained, approximately nine out of 10 patients choose to receive both vaccines, while around 10% reject the COVID shot. Both can be administered at the same time without any problems.
CHILDHOOD VACCINATION CONTINUES AT HEALTH CENTERS
The campaign also continues to offer vaccination to children aged between six months and 11 years, who can request an appointment at health centers. This season, the Health Department has extended eligibility to children up to 11, bringing more minors into a strategy aimed at strengthening protection for the child population.
One of the main new features is the availability of an intranasal vaccine for children aged between 24 months and 11 years, allowing it to be administered without an injection. "It is an intranasal vaccine, so there is no need for a shot, and it is highly recommended because it protects them," Jarque explained, urging families to visit health centers.
The nursing coordinator also stressed the importance of vaccinating children to prevent complications. "Not getting the flu helps prevent other problems that require hospital admission," she said. According to her, appointments are operating normally, and children who meet the criteria can request an appointment without waiting lists.
