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Smokers over 18 years of age will be able to get vaccinated against the flu for the first timeMaría José López – Europa Press

One of the great novelties of the vaccination campaign 2023/2024 against the flu and covid-19 is the inclusion of smokers as a risk group who are recommended to get vaccinated against the flu. So that, starting in decembercoinciding with the fourth phase of vaccination, smokers from Malaga over 18 years You will be able to request an appointment to be immunized against the flu.

It is the first time that the Junta de Andalucía has decided to include smokers as a target group to which They recommend getting vaccinated against the flu, and that they may do so at the same time as people who live in the home with people over 60 years of age or with people at risk, depending on the availability of the doses, as indicated in the ‘Influenza Vaccination Instructions’ document. and covid-19, Andalusia 2023-2024′, from the Health counseling.

Increased risk of complications

The reason why it has been decided to include smokers in the vaccination recommendations is because they have a risk of greater complications from the flu. Alvaro Martinezspecialist in Pulmonology at the Virgen de la Victoria University Hospital in Málaga and responsible for the Tobacco Cessation consultation, considers that it is a “great” measure, since smokers have more probability of suffering an exacerbation and, therefore, “having to take more antibiotics throughout the year, do multiple visits to the emergency roombe admitted, and, let’s hope that, in the least of cases, deaths». The reason for these possible complications is because tobacco irritates the epithelium of the bronchi, that is, “the skin of the bronchi on the inside”, making them more vulnerable to infectionsaccording to Martínez’s explanations.

Vaccination against flu and covid-19 begins for people over 70 years of age

Another benefit of this measure, according to the specialist, is that the vaccine not only protects the person who only smokes, but also all those underdiagnosed patients who, without knowing it, have some other disease related to tobacco. “These smokers, in many cases, have respiratory and non-respiratory diseases due to tobacco undiagnosed, because they have not gone to the health center or have not been tested, and that makes them even more vulnerable,” says the pulmonologist, who points out that, if they were aware of these other conditions, they would be included in some of the previous risk criteria.

A smoker on a street in Barcelona.

Undiagnosed diseases

«A 40-year-old person who has been smoking since he was 15 can lead a more or less normal life, perhaps he suffocates a little more than necessary, but he is not aware, because he has not had a test, that, Because of tobacco, you have COPD, which is a chronic disease, which makes you more vulnerable to respiratory infections» explains Martínez, who highlights that, by including smokers in the flu vaccine, these profiles are also included who, without knowing it, have a greater potential for illness.

In this sense, the specialist believes that including smokers as special patient subgroups (along with diabetics or chronically ill people), it can be a chance for what become aware that smoking is now a recognized disease, and encourages them to try to quit.

The Clinic helps more than 500 people quit smoking every year

Vaccine not mandatory, but recommended

It is worth remembering that vaccination is not mandatory, but optional, although pulmonologists and authorities strongly encourage that all the target population is immunized. According to the Board, smoking is considered “smoker of at least one cigarette a day». For his part, the doctor Martínez emphasizes that “a smoker is one who smokes. We’ll talk about whether he is a social smoker or another type. But anyone who has the habit is a smoker.

A woman gets vaccinated against the flu

From the Ministry of Health, it is expected that this measure help reduce cases of respiratory problems derived from the flu, which every year causes hospital admissions. “The objective is to prevent smokers, who are people who could potentially feel worse when they have the flu, from avoiding bad times and possible complications,” emphasizes the pulmonologist, who hopes that This group usually remains among those called to be vaccinated of the flu.

Increase in hospital admissions

«Every year the number of admissions increases significantly in pulmonology due to influenza. Last year we had 99 beds occupied during the winter months due to respiratory diseases,” warns the specialist from the Clinical Hospital, who emphasizes the importance of the population called for vaccination, including smokers, to be immunized to protect yourself and avoid complications that may lead to hospital admission.

The Board activates the High Frequency Plan to avoid system overload

To reduce the impact of infections during the fall and winter, the Ministry of Health has activated the High Frequency Plan 2023-2024, for avoid overload in the health system during the flu and Covid-19 season and address in a coordinated manner the foreseeable greater demand and the increase in complexity of the patients assisted during the fall-winter season.

2023-10-21 05:00:26
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