“We already have 2.3 million people vaccinated for flu in Portugal, slightly fewer [in the case of] COVID-19, but the truth is that the Portuguese responded to our call last week,” said Rita Sá Machado to journalists, adding that the numbers are approaching the eligible population, which is the target set for this vaccination.
The official stated that the flu epidemic is already on the rise and urged vaccination.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) had called on European Union countries to accelerate vaccination because flu cases are appearing three to four weeks earlier, driven by a new strain of influenza A (H3N2), subtype K.
To set an example, the Health Minister went to a pharmacy today to be vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19, once again appealing for vaccination.
The latest weekly report on seasonal vaccination from DGS, released on Tuesday, indicates that 2,297,551 people were vaccinated against the flu, of which 1,082,950 were in pharmacies and 1,212,373 in the National Health Service (SNS).
According to the document, 1,252,140 people received the COVID-19 vaccine, 596,258 in pharmacies, and 654,704 in the SNS.
In this regard, the National Association of Pharmacies (ANF) had been warning that the incentive given to pharmacies to avoid waste was causing missed vaccination opportunities.
Today, speaking to Lusa, the president of ANF, Ema Paulino, also present at the initiative, emphasized this situation and urged the Ministry of Health to stop counting this wastage rate to allow pharmacies to focus on “seizing all vaccination opportunities.”
As for measles cases, the Director-General of Health stated that there are no more cases of measles in Portugal, noting that Europe, “because it has low vaccination coverage for measles, is experiencing a resurgence of this disease.”
Regarding the Portuguese situation, she admitted there are “some pockets,” but emphasized that “the excellent vaccination coverage against measles” helps protect the population.
The Health Minister, questioned about the National Health Service’s response in the case of the President of the Republic, who underwent emergency surgery on Monday night for an incarcerated hernia, stated: “Any of us, with those clinical characteristics, would be treated the same way because an emergency situation requires immediate care.”
