Murcia extends vaccination times to fight rising flu cases in the Region

Some health centres are being opened on Saturdays to protect over 60s, high-risk groups and young children

Due to a spike in cases of respiratory viruses, the Region of Murcia health department is offering vaccination appointments in the afternoons at some health centres that normally only open in the mornings.

Some health centres are even being opened on Saturdays.

For example, the Alcantarilla-Sangonera health centre is opening to provide flu and Covid vaccinations today, Tuesday October 21, and Thursday October 23, from 3pm until 8pm.

These jabs are available to people over the age of 60 in the case of flu, and over the age of 70 for Covid, as well as for people in high-risk groups.

The flu jab is also recommended for children aged between six months and nine years old.

In parallel, extra vaccination days are being organised at Algezares health centre for Wednesday October 22, from 3.30pm-7.30pm; and Saturday November 8, from 8am-2.30pm.

Appointments are available to patients registered at this health centre, but in exceptional cases they can get vaccinated at these times without an appointment, subject to availability.

Residents should check with their local health centre to find out when vaccines are available, as each area is planning their own times according to their needs.

In order to reach as many people as possible in the most vulnerable groups, morning and afternoon appointments can be booked either online, by telephone or in person at those health centres which offer these hours.

An additional 22 nurses have been assigned to provide vaccinations so that as many people as possible can be reached.

Meanwhile, the vaccination programme for children aged 2-9 is continuing in schools.

The health department also aims to protect more health workers, as last year vaccination coverage among professionals fell to 37%.

The latest figures from the respiratory virus monitoring network show that the flu is gaining ground in the Region of Murcia, where cases have increased by 38.7% in the last week analysed (October 6-12), whereas cases of the coronavirus were down by 31% and of bronchitis-bronchiolitis fell by 1.7%.

Image: CARM