More than 2,2 million people were vaccinated against influenza from the start of the vaccination campaign until the end of the year, according to the latest report from the Directorate-General for Health (DGS).
The DGS bulletin, which refers to the period between September 29th and December 31st, 2023, indicates that, since the beginning of the vaccination campaign, 2.287.820 people received the flu vaccine and 1.811.252 the seasonal flu vaccine. covid-19.
Of the flu vaccines administered, the majority (1.618.319) were given in pharmacies, while 669.068 were given in National Health Service facilities.
As for the seasonal booster against Covid-19, the majority of vaccines (1.264.290) were also administered in pharmacies, which this year participated in this vaccination for the first time. SNS services vaccinated 546.696 people.
Regarding the number of vaccines by age group, the bulletin published weekly by the DGS, in conjunction with the Executive Directorate of the National Health Service (DE-SNS), indicates that the highest vaccination coverage (75,96%) comes from the flu vaccine. in people aged 80 or over. In this age group, coverage for the seasonal booster against Covid-19 is 63,72%.
In the total of people aged 60 and over, vaccination coverage against influenza does not reach 63% and that for covid-19 is 52,77%.
The bulletin also indicates that, by the end of the year, 151.004 residents in nursing homes and in the National Integrated Continuous Care Network (RNCCI) and 38.087 of these structures had been vaccinated against influenza. Regarding the seasonal booster against Covid-19, it was administered to 136.088 residents in nursing homes and the RNCCI and 26.756 professionals who work there.
As for healthcare professionals, more than 60 were vaccinated against the flu by the end of the year, while 49.780 received the seasonal booster against Covid-19.
The flu vaccination campaign runs simultaneously with the Covid-19 campaign and is aimed at people over 60 years of age, chronically ill people, pregnant women, healthcare professionals and professionals who work in nursing homes.
At the end of the year, regarding mortality data published on the Death Certificate Information System (SICO) website, public health doctors admitted that the cold and respiratory infections could have played an important role in the increase in mortality. mortality recorded in the last week of December and drew attention to flu vaccination coverage, which they consider to be below desirable.
At the time, in statements to Lusa, the president of the National Association of Public Health Doctors (ANMSP), Gustavo Tato Borges, recalled the fragility of the health of the population, “elderly and with various morbidities”, highlighting excess mortality over 70 years.
Regarding flu vaccination coverage, he said it was “below ideal”, and may not be enough to protect the population.
“We needed more adherence to the flu vaccine”, he considered.
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