The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) revealed this Tuesday that almost five million vaccines against Covid-19 and flu were purchased for the 2024-2025 autumn-winter seasonal vaccination campaign that begins on September 20.
In a response sent to Lusa, the DGS stated that “2,1 million vaccines against covid-19 were acquired (mainland Portugal and Autonomous Regions) and 2,5 million flu vaccines for mainland Portugal (2,1 million standard dose and 360 thousand high dose vaccines)”, without indicating the value of the investment.
Last week, the organization had said that “sufficient flu and Covid-19 vaccines had been acquired for all eligible people who show an interest in being vaccinated”, in the health units of the National Health Service (SNS) and in pharmacies.
This year, the flu vaccination with a booster dose is extended to people aged 85 or over, in addition to people living in nursing homes, similar facilities and the national network of integrated continuing care (RNCCI).
Today, in statements to the Lusa news agency, the Director-General of Health, Rita Sá Machado, recalled that people over 84 years old will only be vaccinated “in a health center setting”.
“What we are seeing is trying to minimize the number of people going to health centers. What does that mean? Someone who is 85 or older (…) has their routine appointments. We want to take advantage of this moment (…) to be the moment for vaccination,” he said.
Rita Sá Machado, who was speaking on the sidelines of an HIV conference in Portugal, said that the DGS will reassess the vaccination campaign to “see what methodology will be used next year”.
The 2024-2025 autumn-winter seasonal vaccination campaign starts next week.
Last Thursday, the DGS published the rules relating to the seasonal vaccination campaign against flu and Covid-19, which define the eligible groups, the vaccines to be used, the vaccination schedules and the technical procedures associated with vaccination.
The entity revealed that, in SNS health units, vaccination is recommended and free of charge for people aged 60 or over, professionals and users/residents of residential structures for the elderly (ERPI), similar and the National Network of Integrated Continuing Care (RNCCI) and people with risk pathologies.
Vaccination at SNS units is also recommended for pregnant women and professionals in health services (public and private) and other health care providers, students on clinical placements, firefighters involved in transporting patients, caregivers to dependent people and pharmaceutical distribution professionals, homeless people and prison establishments.
In community pharmacies, vaccination is recommended for users between 60 and 84 years of age and pharmacy healthcare professionals.
The Government will spend 7,6 million euros on vaccinations against Covid-19 and flu in pharmacies and wants to have more people vaccinated by the end of November than in 2023.
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