Seasonal flu vaccine campaign protects the vulnerable

PALMA
SINCE its inception at the beginning of this month, the regional vaccination campaign against seasonal flu has provided protective jabs for nearly 91'400 people in the Balearics.

Regional Health Service (Ib-Salut) reported yesterday that 74'572 inoculations had been provided on Majorca, 10'258 on Ibiza and Formentera, and 6'551 on Minorca.

The object of the campaign is to target those groups of the population which are most at risk. One of the most numerous vulnerable sections is the over-65s of whom there are more than 143'000 in the Balearics. Only about one third have come forward for their jabs so far this year, Ib-Salut said. Other risk groups are those people resident in care homes and clinics; adults and children with chronic lung or heart diseases; those who suffer from diabetes or kidney disease; and women who are more than 14 weeks pregnant. The Health Service has planned to provide 185'000 vaccinations to people in the Islands by the time the campaign closes on 6th November. To date, it has provided about half.