School Vaccination Campaigns in Two Regions
- MADRID (AP) — A recent study by the Spanish Pediatrics Association (AEP) highlights the varying success of the 2024-2025 flu vaccination campaign across Spain's autonomous communities.
- Andalusia and Murcia have seen the most dramatic increases in vaccination coverage due to the implementation of school vaccination programs.These initiatives have resulted in coverage rates of 58.4%...
- Javier Álvarez Aldeán,a member of the AEP and an expert in Andalusia's Strategic Vaccine Plan,emphasized the impact of these programs.
Spain’s Flu Vaccination campaign Shows Regional Disparities
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MADRID (AP) — A recent study by the Spanish Pediatrics Association (AEP) highlights the varying success of the 2024-2025 flu vaccination campaign across Spain’s autonomous communities. The report, titled ‘Vaccination against seasonal flu in childhood and adolescence, recommendations 2025-2026,’ points to innovative strategies in some regions that have considerably boosted vaccination rates, particularly through school-based programs.
School Vaccination programs Boost Coverage
Andalusia and Murcia have seen the most dramatic increases in vaccination coverage due to the implementation of school vaccination programs.These initiatives have resulted in coverage rates of 58.4% and 51.47% respectively, according to the AEP study.
Javier Álvarez Aldeán,a member of the AEP and an expert in Andalusia’s Strategic Vaccine Plan,emphasized the impact of these programs. “Communities like Andalusia and the Murcia region have reaped spectacular results,especially with the intranasal vaccine,administered as a spray,” Álvarez Aldeán said.
Alternative Strategies Prove Effective
Other regions have adopted different approaches to improve accessibility. Galicia,such as,offers vaccinations without appointments at hospitals on weekends,a strategy reminiscent of the coronavirus pandemic response. “Any strategy that has worked is useful, and all communities have seen growth,” Álvarez Aldeán noted.
“Communities such as Andalusia and the Region of murcia have reaped spectacular results in front of the flu.”
Regional Disparities Persist
Despite overall progress, significant disparities remain. Even in regions with historically lower vaccination rates, such as the Basque Country, improvements are evident. “The Basque Country has gone from 18% to 40% this year,” Álvarez aldeán stated.”While this may seem like low average coverage, it is a great advance knowing from where it started.”
Varied Administration Methods
The administration of flu vaccines also varies across regions. Álvarez Aldeán explained that while most communities now offer vaccines to individuals aged 2 to 18, the specific methods differ. “In some, there is school vaccination from three to five years, while from two to three it is carried out in health centers. In other territories, they choose to vaccinate in private nurseries, so each one defends a strategy.”
Vaccination Coverage Rates by region
Provisional data from the 2024-2025 season indicates the following vaccination coverage rates:
- Galicia: 62.98%
- Andalusia: 58.4%
- Asturias: 57.2%
- Murcia: 51.47%
Data from the 2023-2024 season for children aged 1 to 5 years reveals further disparities:
- Galicia: 55.78%
- Murcia: 51%
- Andalusia: 45%
- Basque Country: 18.52%
- Catalonia: 26.21%
- Canary Islands: 32.34%
“Some communities offer school vaccination from three to five years while from two to three is carried out in health centers”
Overall assessment
The average vaccination coverage across all communities is 37.2%.Álvarez Aldeán suggests that “the data have been very varied in the different communities, and there is evidence that the activities and dissemination of the campaign towards professionals and citizens have been very scarce in some cases, which has translated into discrete coverage.”
Disclaimer: This article provides details from official institutions and health professionals.Consult with a healthcare specialist for any health-related concerns.
Spain’s Flu Vaccination Campaign: Yoru Questions Answered
Q: What’s the main takeaway from the 2024-2025 flu vaccination campaign in Spain?
A: The Spanish Pediatrics Association (AEP) highlights a significant disparity in the success of the flu vaccination campaign across the country’s autonomous communities. While some regions have seen marked improvements, others still lag behind.
Q: Which regions have shown the most significant improvements in flu vaccination coverage?
A: Andalusia and Murcia have demonstrated the most dramatic increases in vaccination coverage. This success is largely credited to the implementation of school-based vaccination programs.
Q: Why have Andalusia and Murcia been so successful?
A: According to Javier Álvarez Aldeán,a member of the AEP,these regions have achieved “notable results,” especially with the use of the intranasal vaccine,administered as a spray. The school-based programs have been highly effective in increasing vaccination rates.
Q: What strategies are other regions using to improve vaccination rates?
A: Other regions are experimenting with various approaches. Such as, Galicia offers vaccinations without appointments at hospitals on weekends, a strategy that was also used during the coronavirus pandemic.
Q: Are there regions that still have low coverage?
A: Yes, disparities persist. The Basque Country, though showing advancement (from 18% to 40% this year), still has lower coverage compared to regions like galicia and Andalusia.
Q: How do the governance methods of the flu vaccine vary across Spain?
A: Methods differ from region to region. While most communities offer vaccines to individuals aged 2 to 18, the specific approaches vary. Some offer school vaccinations for children aged three to five, health centers vaccinate children aged two to three, while other regions utilize private nurseries.
Q: What are the specific vaccination coverage rates for the 2024-2025 season?
A: The provided data indicates the following provisional coverage rates:
Galicia: 62.98%
Andalusia: 58.4%
Asturias: 57.2%
Murcia: 51.47%
Q: What about the 2023-2024 season; what where the coverage rates for children aged 1 to 5 years?
A:
Galicia: 55.78%
Murcia: 51%
Andalusia: 45%
Basque Country: 18.52%
Catalonia: 26.21%
canary Islands: 32.34%
Q: What’s the average flu vaccination coverage across all communities?
A: The average vaccination coverage across all communities is 37.2%.
Q: What explains the varied vaccination coverage across different communities?
A: According to Javier Álvarez Aldeán, the data has been very varied in the different communities, and there is evidence that the activities and dissemination of the campaign towards professionals and citizens have been very scarce in some cases, which has translated into discrete coverage.
Disclaimer: This article provides details from the Spanish Pediatrics Association (AEP) and health professionals. For any health-related concerns, please consult with a healthcare specialist.