Osakidetza has launched a flu vaccination campaign with a reinforced vaccine for people over 75 years of age

Osakidetza's 2025 flu vaccination campaign is underway under the slogan "You are the key to preventing influenza. Vaccinate. " 

From this point on, all persons defined astarget populations   can request an appointment to receive the vaccine (which will be posted from next Monday), either through the Osakidetza website or by calling the health centre.

This target population consists of: persons aged 60 or over; children aged 6 months to 5 years (up to 59 months); persons with immunosuppression or chronic pathology (lung, heart attack, diabetes...); pregnant women; social and health service personnel, caregivers of vulnerable persons or living with vulnerable persons; other workers, such as nursery and children's schools; persons with direct exposure to animals (farms, veterinarians...) and essential public services (security forces, firefighters...).

Forpeople over 80 years of age , Osakidetza will telephone them so that they can take the appointment more quickly and more easily, so that they can enjoy the moment that suits them.

In addition, people over 75 years of age will receive a"enhanced" flu vaccine , while being able to be vaccinated against COVID.

One more year, Osakidetza will focus on child vaccination , not only because of the complications that influenza can cause in their health, but because it is a population with the capacity to transmit the disease to other people and especially to the elderly, so for three years now, Osakidetza has systematically vaccinated children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years (59 months) and those over the age of 5 who are at some risk.

The invitation to be vaccinated will be extended to the restof the population at the beginningof November  once the most vulnerable population is protected, as the aim is to immunize as many people as possible.

The details of this new campaign were released this morning by the Health Counselor, Alberto Martínez, at the Rekalde Health Centre in Bilbao, together with the epidemiologist and Director of Integrated Care of the Public Health Directorate, Pello Latasa, and the Deputy Directors of Nursing of the OSI Bilbao-Basurto, Magdalena Presmanes and Beatriz Cubeiro.

As recalled in the presentation, the aim of the campaign is to protect as many people as possible, starting with the most vulnerable, who may have the greatest complications in the face of respiratory diseases.

They have explained that in iaz, disaggregated by population groups, coverage was 57.5 per cent among people aged 60 or over (64 per cent among those over 65), 41 per cent among those aged between 6 months and 5 years and 52 per cent among pregnant women. The Department of Health has assessed these data as "very positive", but recognizing that there is still room for improvement, they have once again called on the population to vaccinate.

For this 2025 flu campaign, Osakidetza has hired about 200 more nurses, who together with administration staff are a "key pillar" in the flu and COVID prevention strategy.