Headline:
Burgos Starts Flu Season with Low Vaccination Rates Among Elderly; Children’s Coverage Improves
The seasonal flu epidemic began just before Christmas in Burgos, with only 55% of those recommended to get vaccinated—adults aged 60 and above—having received the shot. In response, the Burgos Provincial Council‘s Department of Health issued a call yesterday, urging those born before 1964 and children aged 6 months to 5 years to get vaccinated, as they are more vulnerable to complications from influenza.
Last year’s vaccination campaign saw an improvement in the number of children immunized compared to the previous year, with a coverage rate of around 40%. According to official data up to December 16, 3,772 children in this age group received the vaccine in 2023, compared to 2,940 in the same period in 2022.
While adult vaccination rates are higher, at 55%, this is still far from the campaign’s goal of vaccinating 75% of adults aged 60 and above. Despite a strong start, the final figures were similar to those of 2022, with 68,935 and 68,822 adults in this age group getting vaccinated in 2023 and 2022 respectively.
Although the target of 75% vaccination was only met in the over-75 age group (with a 79.5% coverage rate), the Department of Health emphasizes the importance of vaccination for all ages, as the risk of complications increases with age. The current flu epidemic intensity is relatively low (63 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), but it is expected to rise.
Internal Links:
External Links:
- World Health Organization: Influenza (Seasonal)
- [European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control: Influenza](https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/disease recom-mendations/s, 18235 sludge/mccullaghmoressίαςon/s seasonal-influenza-ic/n-DNISSB dilute, aggregation]