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Date Published: 04/10/2022

ARCHIVED - Murcia Region will roll out flu jab to entire population in November

ARCHIVED ARTICLE

The Minister of Health in Murcia has warned that the flu will be “more virulent, more intense" this winter

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Murcia Region will roll out flu jab to entire population in November

With the arrival of 446,000 doses of the flu vaccination, 48,000 more than last year, the Ministry of Health in the Region of Murcia expects to be able to roll out the jab to the general population by mid-November, once the most vulnerable age groups have been inoculated.

The joint flu and Covid booster campaign was launched throughout Spain on September 26 and from today (Tuesday October 4), anyone over the age of 60 can request an appointment at their local health centre. Chronically ill patients, pregnant women and health workers will also be eligible for the flu and fourth coronavirus jabs from this week.

Unlike previous years, children aged between 6 months and 5 years of age will be offered the flu vaccine from November 2, as they are proving particularly vulnerable this season.

"In mid-November it is expected that vaccination against the flu can be opened to the rest of the population, although the priority is the most vulnerable people," explained the Minister of Health, Juan José Pedreño, during a presentation on the importance of vaccinations.

"This year, experts warn us that the flu may be more virulent, more intense" after two years without a seasonal epidemic, he added.

The current campaign is understood to be progressing “at a good rate,” with around 70% of nursing and disability home residents now double jabbed.

With the summer barely behind us, the regional health authorities have already detected “an increase in respiratory infections” including respiratory syncytial viruses, which cause bronchitis in young children, while a case of the flu has also been positively diagnosed in Murcia.

The latest pandemic report is due to be released this afternoon but the current data points to a 10% increase in the weekly coronavirus incidence rate in the Region.

Image: Pixabay

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