Leandra Abarca, from the CCSS epidemiological surveillance – in charge of public health in Costa Rica – pointed out that this vaccination is aimed at specific risk groups set up by the National Commission on Vaccination and Epidemiology (CNVE).
These are, he specified, children from six months to under seven years old, adults over 58 years old, pregnant women and the population from seven to 57 years old with a chronic disease duly registered in the unique digital health record.
Abarca added that they will also inject health sector workers (CCSS, Ministry of Health, Red Cross, Fire Brigade, Police), National Animal Health Service, 9-1-1 Service and Immigration and Immigration, as well as students of the sector and appropriate technicians, who conduct clinical courses in health centers.
Influenza is a highly contagious disease, it occurs seasonally and causes high seizure rates with the consequent increase in outpatient consultations in health services and hospitalizations, which is why it is considered a public health problem, the official said.
He warned that this virus can cause a high burden of disease due to outbreaks and epidemics that occur every year and also cause deaths. In addition, this leads to an increase in disabilities and disruptions in everyday work at the workplace with all the associated consequences.
Abarca announced that the influenza vaccine can be given at the same time as the Covid-19 vaccine, but in different arms, at the user’s request.
For Influenza Vaccination Day 2022, the CCSS purchased 1.5 million doses equivalent to the quadrivalent vaccine composed of seasonal Southern Hemisphere influenza strains.
After indicating that the distribution of doses will take place during the week of June 20, once approved by the CCSS Laboratory for Standards and Quality Control of Drugs, Abarca indicated that the campaign will and will start towards the end of next month Duration six weeks or until stocks last.
Finally, he explains that it is a specific and not universal vaccination that the institution carries out every year to protect a percentage of the risk groups identified by the CNVE.
rgh/ale