'You are going to hit' is the motto of the campaign with which the Ministry of Health aims to increase the level of awareness on the importance of vaccination against influenza, a disease that last year had an incidence almost three times greater than the previous .
In the 2017/2018 campaign there were 40,632 cases of flu, compared to 14,597 in the 2016/2017 winter period.
The Department of Health recalls that the vaccine is aimed primarily at immunizing people who are at increased risk of complications in case of suffering from infection with the virus and those who can transmit the disease to others who have a high risk of complications.
As in the past year, 287 vaccination points have been provided in the Region (101 health centers and local clinics, 111 private posts, 59 homes for the chronically and elderly and penitentiaries, 10 hospital pharmacies and 6 prevention services. of occupational risks).
In these, 225,000 doses of influenza vaccines and 18,000 doses of pneumococcal vaccine will be administered, intended for people over 60 who are enrolled in influenza vaccination and who must also protect themselves against pneumococcus if they have not done so before. over 65 who received the pneumococcal in the 2012/2013 season should receive this year a dose of unique and last memory.
Vaccine for those over 65
Of the 225,000 doses, 107,000 doses of antigen vaccine of the adjuvanted virus have been acquired, so that the population over 65 years old will be given this vaccine that until the previous campaign was reserved for those over 85 years.
The vaccine is the most effective preventive measure to prevent the disease and said that the general objective of the campaign is to reach 65% coverage (last year was 63%).
For this reason, this year, in addition to the awareness campaign 'You are going to hit it', 200,000 text messages will be sent to mobile phones of people aged 60 or over.
The vaccine is primarily aimed at immunizing people who have a higher risk of developing complications in case of being infected by the virus and those who can transmit the disease to others who have a high risk of complications.
It is especially indicated for people of 60 years or more, between 6 months and 60 years with chronic pathology, pregnant women and during the puerperium (4 weeks), all workers of any health center, workers of essential services and workers of farms or poultry or pig farms and also wild birds.
Health authorities insist on preventive measures such as frequent hand washing, especially after coughing or sneezing, as the flu is spread from person to person, mainly by droplets of saliva or secretions emitted by coughing or sneezing .
The symptomatology of influenza is variable and can sometimes be confused with respiratory tract infections.
The incubation period is one or two days, and the main symptoms are malaise, severe headache, muscle pain, fever and cough.
