flu and Covid vaccination dates

Start date of the flu and Covid vaccination campaign in each community

The Government of Riojathrough the Ministry of Health and Social Policies, launches the vaccination campaign against the flu, Covid-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Under the motto ‘It is better to vaccinate than cure’the 2025-2026 campaign includes important new features aimed at more effectively protecting the most vulnerable population: children, the elderly and risk groups.

The Minister of Health and Social Policies, Maria Martintogether with the general director of Public Health, Consumption and Care, Eva Martinezand the director of Primary Care Nursing Care of SERIS, Victoria Musitu, have explained this Tuesday, September 30, the vaccination protocol in La Rioja and have attended the administration of the first doses to Early Childhood Education and Primary Education schoolchildren at the San Pío X school in the Logroño neighborhood of La Estrella.

For the first time in La Rioja, all boys and girls from 3 to 11 years old They will be able to get vaccinated against the flu at their own school, free of charge and with an intranasal vaccine without a puncture, safe and better tolerated. This measure, which will be carried out in all Rioja schools, aims to reduce infections, avoid complications and reduce family absences from school and work.

As Martín highlighted, “this year’s campaign is a decisive step in protecting the health of all Riojans. For the first time, we expanded flu vaccination to all schoolchildren from 3 to 11 years of age in their own educational centers, and we added immunization against respiratory syncytial virus in nursing homes. “We want to facilitate vaccination, protect those who need it most and reduce the transmission of respiratory viruses in our community,” he said.

All registered minors between 3 and 11 years old will be able to receive the vaccine in schools in La Riojaexcept in specific cases such as severe immunodeficiency, chronic treatment with salicylates or recent symptoms of asthma. In these situations, the vaccine will be administered intramuscularly at the health center.

The Minister of Health and Social Policies, María Martín, has made an appeal to Rioja society, especially the target population, recalling that “Getting vaccinated is the most effective measure to protect our health and that of those who are most at risk.”. “It is the most effective way to reduce serious cases and complications associated with influenza and COVID-19, as well as to avoid their impact on the response capacity of our health and social health system.”

The target population includes people over 60 years old, institutionalized peoplepeople over 12 years of age with chronic pathologies, pregnant women, cohabitants of vulnerable people, professionals from health and social health centers, as well as essential public services personnel.

In addition, the counselor has highlighted the essential role of nursing in the development of the 2025-2026 vaccination campaign, both in the organization and in the administration of the doses. The close coordination between Public Health and Primary Care constitutes a milestone in the control of diseases through vaccination, guaranteeing the effectiveness and safety of the process.

To this end, the agendas of the nursing teams in all health centers have been planned and adjusted, which will allow them to travel to all the schools in the region. As the main novelty, This edition multiplies the reach of the campaign: compared to the nearly 7,000 schoolchildren vaccinated in educational centers last year, it is now planned to immunize nearly 27,000 boys and girls throughout La Rioja.

For her part, Eva Martínez has specified the importance of vaccination, “getting vaccinated saves lives and prevents serious complications. The intranasal flu vaccine has proven to be safe and effective, and its administration in schools is a fundamental tool to break the chain of transmission. In addition, this year we continue to immunize babies against RSV, a measure that has significantly reduced hospitalizations for bronchiolitis. Our objective is to protect the youngest and the elderly, who are most at risk of suffering serious illnesses.”

Likewise, he highlighted that vaccination in schools offers multiple benefits: guarantees greater protection for children and their family environment, reduces infections in classrooms and community transmission, facilitates the participation of families by avoiding trips to health centers and uses a safe intranasal vaccine, without a puncture, whose possible side effects are mild and temporary, such as nasal congestion or low-grade fever.

Furthermore, he recalled that this year’s campaign incorporates for the first time the immunization against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in nursing homesin addition to the usual vaccination against flu and COVID-19.

This measure seeks to reduce serious respiratory infections and hospitalizations in one of the most vulnerable groups.

Where and when the vaccine is administered

The dates of the flu and COVID-19 vaccination campaign for this 2025-2026 season will be as follows:

– Schoolchildren in educational centers: launching the first week of October.

– People institutionalized in nursing homes: launching the first week of October.

– Population from 6 months to 11 years: launching the first week of October.

– People aged 85 and older: will begin the second week of October

– Health and social health professionals: It will begin the second week of October.

– Rest of the population and risk groups: It will begin the third week of October.

As in previous seasons, risk groups and the general population who wish to do so will be able to get vaccinated against flu and COVID-19 at their health centers and offices of the Rioja Health Service. The campaign will continue as long as the virus remains in circulation and depending on the availability of vaccines.

For request an appointment You can call the Salud Responde phone number 941298333, manage it through the application, the Rioja Salud website or by contacting the health center or office. The Autonomous Community of La Rioja has acquired 110,000 doses of flu vaccine for the 2025-2026 campaign. Regarding vaccines against COVID-19, La Rioja has nearly 30,000 doses, to which more doses will be added in the coming weeks from the Ministry. All vaccines are adapted to the strain that is circulating right now.