Catalonia on the brink of the flu epidemic: vaccination will be open to everyone starting Monday

BarcelonaAfter health authorities warned that had arrived two weeks earlier than expected And with a more contagious variant, the flu is now expected to gain momentum in the coming weeks and become an epidemic again. To minimize risks, the Catalan Health Department will open vaccinations against the virus to the entire population starting Monday. The reason: the country is expected to reach a moderate level of transmission in about two weeks. This Friday, the autonomous communities and the Ministry of Health also assessed the threat of the flu in the Interterritorial Council led by the Minister, Mónica García, and agreed to reinstate the use of masks in healthcare centers when the peak of infections and hospitalizations is reached. Currently, flu transmission in Catalonia is at a low level, but the incidence has begun to rise earlier than usual, in line with the forecasts of health authorities. In fact, the upward trend of this virus is more pronounced than in previous seasons, both before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. For all these reasons, the department is urging people to get vaccinated, since immunization is the best tool to prevent serious complications and avoid hospitalizations, especially among the most vulnerable. Data collected by the Infection Surveillance Information System in Catalonia (Sivic) confirms the rise in flu cases, with 81 infections per 100,000 inhabitants. Currently, it is the second most frequent respiratory pathogen (13% of cases), behind rhinovirus—which causes the common cold and 42% of current infections—but ahead of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which traditionally preceded the flu epidemic in children and now causes the flu itself. According to Sivic, 5,988 flu infections have already been diagnosed, half of which correspond to the predominant flu variant (A H1N1pdm09), while the other half are caused by the K variant (A H3N2). This variant is largely responsible for the increase in infections in Europe, and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has reiterated the need to vaccinate vulnerable groups "without delay" due to an "unusual early transmission" of the flu compared to previous years. The Catalan Health Department echoes this sentiment, urging people aged 60 and over, children between 6 and 59 months, pregnant women, healthcare professionals and essential workers, and people with risk factors to get vaccinated. In fact, vaccinations have been administered for weeks, and the vaccination campaign figures are better than in previous years. To schedule an appointment for vaccinations, it is best to do so through the "My Health" app. Appointments can also be made online at citasalut.gencat.cat or in person at your local primary care center (CAP). However, until December 5th, primary care centers (CAPs) are also offering walk-in vaccinations Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. According to the government, this is thanks to the walk-in vaccination strategy. The vaccination campaign figures are improving compared to previous years.Since people who want to be vaccinated will get vaccinated when it suits them, regardless of whether appointments are available or not, nurses have strongly criticized the plan, as it represents a heavy workload in a context of already high workload and few available staff, they say.

The mask is back

This Friday, the autonomous communities and the Ministry of Health discussed the importance of having a common protocol for managing the flu epidemic. According to Minister García, all the communities have committed to supporting the flu plan, including those governed by the People's Party (PP). "This year, they will not, once again, put their political interests above the health of the population," said the minister, who recalled that last season the PP-led governments did veto the common plan agreed upon by the ministry's technical experts and the communities. The plan includes measures such as the gradual tightening of mask use in healthcare and social care centers, which will go from recommended to mandatory in the highest risk levels. "From now on, anyone with cold symptoms should responsibly wear a mask," the minister emphasized. In Catalonia, the Department of Health already recommends the use of face masks in healthcare facilities and for people with respiratory symptoms, such as coughing or sneezing, especially if they anticipate being in contact with vulnerable individuals.