Osakidetza has vaccinated over 43,300 people against the flu at its 'txertogunes' in Araba, Bizkaia, and Gipuzkoa between October 19 and November 1. Of these, more than 2,000 were children. The 'txertogunes' served an average of over 3,000 people daily, with 16% having not been vaccinated for at least five years.
From today, flu vaccination is open to all citizens, by appointment at health centers. The Department of Health and Osakidetza thank the public for their response and encourage those not yet vaccinated to book an appointment before the peak flu months.
Flu vaccination contributes to the Basque Health Pact's commitment to prevention, with prevention and health promotion as its primary focus.
Since the campaign began, Osakidetza has administered 421,732 flu vaccine doses and 251,563 COVID-19 vaccines in health centers and 'txertogunes'. At these walk-in vaccination points, which concluded on November 1, over 43,300 flu vaccines and more than 18,000 COVID-19 vaccines were administered. By territory, flu vaccinations exceeded 18,000 in Bizkaia, 15,000 in Gipuzkoa, and 9,000 in Araba.
Among those vaccinated, 2,093 were children and 948 were pregnant women. Furthermore, 16% of those vaccinated, a total of 6,793 people, had not received a vaccine in at least five years. The 'txertogunes' in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Bilbao, and Donostia also operated on Saturdays and Sundays, vaccinating nearly 6,000 people over the two weekends.
By age group, the largest segment was 60 to 79 years old (50%), followed by 15 to 59 years old (39%). Nearly seven out of ten vaccinations were administered in the afternoon, the operating hours for the twelve walk-in vaccination points.
The Department of Health and Osakidetza view the public's response to the 'txertogunes' positively, as they offered a simple, walk-in vaccination alternative for two weeks, with extended hours and across all three territories.
Last year, Osakidetza set up a single walk-in vaccination reinforcement center in La Casilla (Bilbao), which vaccinated 14,512 people. This positive reception has led the Department of Health and Osakidetza to expand the initiative this year to all three territories with 12 'txertogunes', aiming to facilitate access to vaccination, prevent illness, and reduce flu-related hospitalizations.
In primary care, 378,362 flu vaccine doses and 233,047 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered. At the 'txertogunes', 43,370 flu doses and 18,516 COVID-19 doses were given. In total, Osakidetza has administered over 421,700 flu vaccine doses and more than 251,500 against COVID-19. The flu vaccination figure is 5.2% higher than the same period last year. Among children aged 6 to 59 months, 22,521 have been vaccinated (34.4% coverage), a 5% increase from last year.
To date, Osakidetza has registered over 384,800 flu vaccination appointments in primary care, with more than 27,700 for children and over 1,900 for pregnant women.
Since October 5, 9,589 Osakidetza professionals have been vaccinated against the flu, protecting their health and that of their patients. The Department of Health and Osakidetza acknowledge their involvement and encourage their healthcare and social healthcare colleagues to join.
According to the latest epidemiological surveillance data (October 19-25), respiratory infection cases in primary care have increased by 26%, while severe hospitalizations have decreased by 14%. The most detected virus is rhinovirus. Flu and bronchiolitis are slightly increasing but remain at pre-epidemic levels, while COVID-19 is decreasing. 919 flu cases and 122 hospital admissions for flu have been recorded in primary care. For COVID-19, there have been 2,479 cases and 468 hospital admissions.
From today, Monday, November 2, all citizens can book an appointment for flu vaccination at their health center, via the Osakidetza website or app, or by calling 900 20 30 50. The Department of Health and Osakidetza thank the public and urge vaccination, especially recommended for those over 60, individuals with chronic illnesses, pregnant women, and children aged six months to five years. They also remind the public of the importance of hand hygiene, regular ventilation of indoor spaces, staying home when symptomatic, and wearing masks when necessary to protect vulnerable individuals.
Vaccination contributes to the Basque Health Pact's commitment to prevention, guiding the healthcare system towards a more preventive, equitable, and person-centered model.
