Flu Vaccination Campaign Kicks Off on Oct. 16

The main novelty is the expansion of childhood vaccination, with the introduction of a painless, easy‑to‑administer intranasal flu vaccine.

The Health Department of the Government of the Canary Islands has moved up the start of the flu vaccination campaign to October 6 for certain high‑risk groups, while health centres across the archipelago will begin administering the vaccines on Thursday, 16 October.

The first groups to be vaccinated, coordinated by the Directorate General of Public Health of the Canary Health Service (SCS) together with Primary Care Nursing, are:

• Residents of nursing homes and other institutionalised facilities, as well as people with a high degree of dependency who will receive the vaccine at home;
• Health‑care professionals;
• Children included in the school‑based flu vaccination programme.

Expanded Childhood Vaccination

This year the programme adds the intranasal flu vaccine for the first time, a painless and easy‑to‑administer option that also brings important benefits, such as covering a new cohort: children under five years old.

• Age range: Children from six months up to five years of age can now receive the flu vaccine as part of the routine immunisation calendar.
• Chronic conditions: Children under 15 years old with chronic illnesses—who are at higher risk from flu—will receive the attenuated nasal vaccine, the same preparation given to healthy children aged two to six, provided there are no contraindications.

School‑Based Vaccination

• Private schools are joining the school‑based vaccination programme that began last season in public schools. All participating schools will administer the intranasal flu vaccine to children in the second cycle of early childhood education.
• Children of employees covered by health‑insurance mutualities may be vaccinated in the classroom without distinction. If they prefer to be vaccinated outside the school setting, they must attend the points established by their mutualities.

The flu vaccine will be offered this academic year in schools throughout the Canary Islands to children aged three, four and five, thanks to the collaboration between the Health and Education departments, building on the pilot experience from the previous campaign.

“This measure helps protect the health of students and their families, facilitates work‑life balance, reduces school and work absenteeism among parents and guardians, cuts unnecessary antibiotic use, and creates safer environments for both learners and teaching staff.”

Ongoing Commitment

The Canary Health Service aims to advance the childhood flu‑vaccination programme “in a progressive and consolidated manner” to raise public awareness of the importance of vaccinating children against the disease (paediatric flu‑related hospitalisations are comparable to those of people aged 65‑75) and to improve annual coverage rates.

The campaign enjoys the support not only of health‑care professionals in clinics and hospitals but also of pharmacy staff, who actively recommend flu vaccination—especially for people over 60, pregnant women, children from six months to five years, and anyone of any age with chronic conditions.

“It remains the most effective measure to prevent flu‑related hospitalisations and deaths each year.”