Almost 2,5 million people have been vaccinated against influenza since the start of the seasonal vaccination campaign, according to the most recent report from the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) released this Tuesday, February 20th.
Between September 29th of last year and February 18th, 1.975.078 were vaccinated with a seasonal booster against Covid-19 and 2.480.635 against the flu.
The majority of vaccines against Covid-19 were given in pharmacies, almost 1,4 million. In the last seven days, in pharmacies and the National Health Service (SNS), there were 6.406 more people vaccinated.
The majority of flu vaccines were also administered in pharmacies, 1.736.379, compared to 743.422 in the NHS. In total, over 4.838 people were vaccinated in the two locations in the last seven days.
Regarding the number of vaccines per age group, DGS data reveal that vaccination coverage is higher in influenza.
Of the total number of people aged 60 or over, vaccination coverage stands at 66,04%, while in relation to covid-19 it reaches 55,84%.
The DGS reduced the age eligible for the flu vaccine to 50 years old and the director general has already admitted that it can reduce it even further and cover people aged 45 and over. However, he stressed that the current priority continues to be the vaccination of citizens aged 60 and over.
In January, six Portuguese medical societies came together to insist on the importance of vaccination against influenza, which they consider the “basis of the effort” to reduce the impact of the disease, and to reiterate that vaccines are safe and effective.
In the conclusions, considering all the scientific evidence collected, the entities warn that vaccination against influenza “significantly reduces hospitalizations and mortality in immunocompromised patients and in patients with respiratory diseases”, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
«These high-risk groups must be vaccinated annually and health professionals must ensure timely prescription, including at the time of hospital discharge», they emphasize.
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