More than 1.3 million Portuguese over 60 have already received a flu vaccine.

According to the second wave of Vacinómetro 2023/2024, more than 1.3 million Portuguese aged 60 years and over (32%) have already been vaccinated against influenza.

A joint report from the Portuguese Society of Pulmonology (SPP) and the Portuguese Association of General and Family Medicine (APMGF), supported by Sanofi, said that 48.1% of Portuguese people aged 65 and over have already been vaccinated. this percentage rises to 66.3% among people aged 80 and over.

Of the population studied, 35.5% were women and 26.5% were men, the report said.

The paper, which tracks flu season vaccinations using questionnaires, also shows that 48.9% of people with chronic diseases have already been vaccinated, including 55.9% of those with diabetes and 50.1% of the population with cardiovascular disease .

35.3% of healthcare workers in direct contact with patients also received influenza vaccines.

For pregnant women, the survey found vaccination coverage to be 52.4%, with 72.2% doing so on doctor’s advice.

The document also notes that of the already vaccinated people aged 65 years and over, 57.1% are from the Lisbon metropolitan region, 56.5% from the Northern region, 39.4% from the Azores, 39.3% from the Alentejo, 34.8% from the Algarve, 32.6% from the Central Region and 32.4% from Madeira.

Of the total number of vaccinated people, 50.8% did so on the recommendation of a doctor, 19.1% due to a work initiative, 14.7% on their own initiative and 9.9% because they received a planning notice from the SNS.

The survey also found that 59.7% of people age 65 and older who have not been vaccinated intend to do so.

Among health care workers, 21.5% of unvaccinated respondents said they intended to get vaccinated this flu season, and in the group over 80 years of age, 58.9% of unvaccinated respondents said they intended to get vaccinated this flu season.

Regarding the simultaneous use of the influenza vaccine with the Covid-19 vaccine, 83.1% of vaccinated people belonging to the recommended groups preferred coadministration.

Regarding the reasons that led them to choose coadministration, 69.6% said they wanted to be protected, 21.1% said their doctor recommended coadministration, 5.2% because they were part of a risk group, and 4 .2% due to recommendation. pharmaceutical production.

According to the DGS, influenza vaccination is strongly recommended for priority groups such as people aged 60 years and over, chronically ill and immunocompromised people aged six months and over, and pregnant women. Health care workers and other health care providers are also included in the recommendations.