Lisbon, Sept. 30, 2024 (Lusa) - The president of the Portuguese Pharmaceutical Society has urged people to get vaccinated against flu and Covid-19, with the vaccination programme starting on Wednesday, noting that although the weather is mild, the public should protect themselves before these illnesses reach their peak.
«It is important for people to get vaccinated quickly, the sooner the better, so that the immune system responds to the vaccine and is prepared when the infection peaks,» said the president, Helder Mota Filipe, adding that he is running a campaign to encourage community pharmacists to proactively raise awareness amongst people over the age of 60.
This year, the flu vaccination campaign extended free vaccinations to children aged between 2 and 4.
According to guidelines from the Directorate-General for Health (DGS), the Health Service (SNS) centres and authorised vaccination centres in the private and social sectors will vaccinate eligible children.
This year, the SNS has purchased around 2.3 million doses of standard-strength flu vaccines and a further 369,000 high-strength doses, representing an increase of 187,000 standard-strength vaccines and 12,000 high-strength doses.
Groups eligible for flu vaccination include healthcare professionals providing direct care in inpatient units, outpatient surgery units, obstetrics and neonatology units, and dialysis units in the social and private sectors, as well as in facilities providing round-the-clock care.
The list also includes pregnant people, Health Service (SNS) staff, firefighters in direct contact with people at high risk of severe illness, prisoners, and people experiencing homelessness, among others.
The programme provides a high-dose vaccine for older people aged 85 or over, as well as for residents aged 60 or over in care homes and residential facilities, temporary accommodation centres and those within the integrated long-term care network.
As for the possibility of people receiving the vaccine free of charge at pharmacies, this year the scheme covers the population aged between 60 and 84. For those above that age, the Health Service (SNS) will continue to provide vaccination.
«This is a point of disagreement we have with the Directorate-General for Health (DGS),» noted Helder Mota Filipe, adding: «People [over 85] should be able to decide, just as everyone else can, according to their preferences and convenience, whether they wish to be vaccinated at a health centre or a pharmacy.» If the aim is to increase coverage, «when it comes to vaccination, ease of access is a fundamental aspect for achieving greater coverage».
«If I found it difficult to understand last year, I find it even more difficult this year, because if these are logistical problems, we've had a year to resolve them,» he added.
As for the flu, this year, people aged between 18 and 59 with underlying health conditions, such as chronic respiratory diseases, cardiovascular, liver or metabolic conditions, amongst others, can also be vaccinated at pharmacies.
«This increases access for people under 60 with underlying health conditions. It is a positive step that shows solidarity,» acknowledged the president of the pharmacists' association.
As for Covid-19, the age threshold for the vaccine recommendation has risen from 60 to 70, while vaccination continues for people with conditions or medical issues associated with a higher risk of severe illness, as well as for residents in particularly vulnerable settings and circumstances.
The president of the pharmacists' association said that slight differences in vaccination ages each year «can confuse» the public and insisted on conveying the information straightforwardly to maintain the vaccination coverage rate.
As part of the Covid-19 vaccination programme, pharmacies will also vaccinate people aged 18 to 69 with underlying health conditions, while they will continue to vaccinate people aged 70 to 84, regardless of whether they have such conditions.
SO/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
