The Region of Murcia has launched its vaccination campaign today, allowing seniors aged sixty and above to receive flu vaccinations at their local health centres. In an effort to protect the most vulnerable, those aged seventy and over will also be eligible for the covid vaccination. The regional Health Minister, Juan José Pedreño, has made a public appeal for everyone within the target groups to attend their health centres for vaccination.

Last year, less than fifty per cent of individuals over the age of sixty were vaccinated against the flu, while the uptake for the covid vaccine was even lower, with less than thirty per cent receiving it. This year, authorities are particularly calling on healthcare professionals and staff at care facilities to ensure they get vaccinated, highlighting that not only do these vaccinations protect themselves but also the vulnerable individuals they care for.

A new addition to this year’s campaign is the flu vaccination for children up to nine years old, which has been rolled out in schools since the thirtieth of September. Additionally, last week saw the commencement of the vaccination campaign in elderly care and disability centres, aiming to cover as many vulnerable groups as possible.

Currently, while the Region has not reached the usual epidemic levels for flu, there has been a thirty-three per cent increase in respiratory infections. Increase in cases of bronchitis, bronchiolitis, flu, and covid are noted, emphasising the importance of vaccination in preventing serious complications from these illnesses.