The DGS rule, which comes into force on Monday, comes at a time of intense flu activity and an excess of weekly all-cause mortality.
The seasonal vaccination against covid-19 will be extended from Monday to the over-18s, and the over-50s can also be vaccinated against the flu on that date, according to the DGS.
The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) says that the autumn-winter 2023-2024 seasonal vaccination against covid-19 will be extended to the population aged between 18 and 59 and the flu vaccination to people aged between 50 and 59.
The DGS rule, which comes into force on Monday, comes at a time of intense flu activity and an excess of overall weekly mortality from all causes.
The DGS also indicates that the extension of free seasonal vaccination is also related to the current availability of vaccines.
To date, people aged 60 and over have been advised to take the flu vaccine and Covid-19.
According to the Directorate-General for Health, this extension of the groups eligible for vaccination was preceded by an assessment by the Seasonal Vaccination Technical Committee.
“The extension of flu vaccination is carried out according to the doses available, with priority being given to older people. The extension to other age groups will be considered in the coming weeks, taking into account the availability of vaccines, and as long as the objective of achieving the best vaccination coverage in the eligible population is maintained,” says the DGS.
The organization stresses that the promotion of vaccination among those aged 60 and over, people with comorbidities and health professionals remains a priority.
Vaccination is available at around 3,500 vaccination points, approximately 2,500 pharmacies and 1,000 primary health care units of the National Health Service.
This winter, the flu has been one of the main reasons for the huge influx of people to hospitals and health centers, as well as abstention from work.
Figures released on Friday indicate that Portugal recorded 5,542 deaths in the first two weeks of 2024, the start of the year in which the most people died since 2021, during the worst phase of the covid-19 pandemic in the country.
The Death Certificates Information System (SICO) shows that 513 people died on New Year’s Day, a figure that has never been reached on January 1st in the last 10 years.
According to the information published on the SICO website, from the first day of the year until today mortality has remained “much higher than expected”.