Andalusia surpasses its flu vaccination record

The advisor of Health, Presidency and Emergencies of the Junta of Andalusia, Antonio Sanzannounced this Wednesday that “Andalusia has broken the historical record of people vaccinated by flu in a campaign”. Specifically, since the vaccination campaign began on September 30, 1,903,244 people have received the flu vaccine in Andalusia, breaking the record of 1,902,719 registered in the 2022-2023 campaign.

Antonio Sanz, who has assured that “he is very satisfied” with these data, recalled, however, that the campaign remains open because the risk of contagion of flu and other acute respiratory infections (ARI) remains high. In fact, he pointed out that “the incidence rates still place us at epidemic levels.”

The incidence rate of ARI in Andalusia has grown last week, going from 286.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants during New Year’s week to 307.7 in the week of Three Kings. On the other hand, the flu syndrome rate continues to decline, going from 37.8 in the first week of the year to 32.4 last week, according to data collected by the Board in a note.

By province, the flu rate in Almería stands at 17.2 per 100,000 inhabitants (the previous week it was 18.8); in Cádiz, 39.2 (44.6); in Córdoba, 35.1 (42.2); in Granada, 29.8 (33.5); in Huelva, 38.8 (40.9); in Jaén, 28.1 (38.4); in Malaga, 28.5 (35.4) and in Seville, 44.2 (48.5).

Regarding the incidence of acute respiratory infections as a whole by province, in Almería it has gone from 201.1 to 271.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants; in Cádiz it has decreased slightly, going from 419.6 to 416.7; in Córdoba, like the rest of the provinces, it has increased, going from 261.3 to 252.5; in Granada, from 221.3 to 276.2; in Huelva, from 240.6 to 266.9; in Jaén, from 335 to 370.9; in Malaga, from 227.1 to 254 and in Seville, from 317.7 to 318.

The counselor has taken the opportunity to thank health professionals, especially those in Nursing, “for their efforts so that the majority of the target population is protected against respiratory viruses” thanks to the flu vaccine, covid-19, which a total of 772,741 Andalusians have already received, and the immunization of 43,832 babies against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the main cause of bronchiolitis, which represents 94.6% of the target population.

By province, 153,688 people have been vaccinated against the flu in Almería and 54,681 against covid; in Cádiz, 239,763 and 93,926, respectively; in Córdoba, 200,694 and 76,679; in Granada, 236,106 and 94,502; in Huelva, 105,329 and 42,682; in Jaén, 177,446 and 62,439; in Malaga, 344,756 and 139,079; and in Seville, 445,462 people have received the flu vaccine and 208,753 have received the covid-19 vaccine.

Likewise, in Almería, 4,500 children under six months of age have been immunized against RSV, which means that 94% coverage of all those born since April 1 has been achieved; in Cádiz, 5,406 (95%); in Córdoba, 3,755 (95.6%); in Granada, 4,716 (94.4%); in Huelva, 2,499 (95.9%); in Jaén, 2,905 (96.5%); in Malaga, 7,715 (92%) and in Seville, 10,090 (95.3%).

Finally, Antonio Sanz, who stressed that “the vaccine is effective, safe and free“, has insisted that people belonging to some of the target groups (children from 6 to 59 months, over 60 years of age, under 60 years of age with previous pathologies, pregnant women and health and socio-health professionals) still have time to get vaccinated.

The appointment must be requested through the usual channels (Health Responds or at your health center) or go to some of the centers authorized for vaccination without an appointment this Wednesday. In Andalusia as a whole, they have been enabled for this Wednesday 357 walk-in vaccination pointsof which 294 have afternoon hours.

By province, Almería has 23 walk-in vaccination points, of which 20 have afternoon hours; Cádiz, 68, with 48 with afternoon hours; Córdoba, 35, with 14 with afternoon hours; Granada, 21, all with afternoon hours; Huelva, 18, all also with afternoon hours; Jaén: 40, of which 36 have afternoon hours; Málaga, 79, of which 64 have afternoon hours; and Seville, 73 walk-in vaccination points, all of which have afternoon hours.