The results of the third wave of the vaccinometer, an initiative of the Portuguese Society of Pulmonology and the Portuguese Association of General and Family Medicine (APMGF), indicate that Portugal is close to reaching the target of 75% vaccination in people aged 65 or over proposed by the World Health Organization, having already reached 72.8%.

Of the vaccinated population aged 65 or over, 81.8% are from the Algarve, 80.1% from the North region, 76% from the Autonomous Region of Madeira, 80.1% from the Lisbon metropolitan area, 67% from the Center area, 62 .7% of Alentejo and 62.5% of the Autonomous Region of the Azores.

Vacinometer estimates indicate that 71.3% of people with chronic diseases have already been vaccinated against the flu. The sub-analysis carried out indicates that 73.4% of people with diabetes, 72.1% of the population with cardiovascular disease and 72.2% of people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) have already taken the influenza vaccine.

The data also reveals that 59% of Portuguese people aged 60 or over have also been vaccinated, with more than half (51%) being vaccinated on the recommendation of a doctor and 31% on their own initiative, because they seek to be protected.

The third wave of the vaccinometer indicates that almost half (45%) of health professionals in direct contact with patients have been vaccinated, while among pregnant women, vaccination coverage rises to 64%. Of these, 70% did so on a doctor's recommendation.

Of the total group of vaccinated people, in the sample studied, the main reasons that led them to get vaccinated were the doctor's recommendation (46.9%), their own initiative to always be protected (21.9%), in the context of an initiative labor (20.2%), knowing that they are part of a risk group for a certain disease (5.9%) and having received notification of an appointment through the Unified Health System (4.5%).

Quoted in the statement, pulmonologist Filipe Froes, from Hospital Pulido Valente – Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, states that, compared to the results of the 3rd wave last year, which happened later, "the pace of vaccination is now faster than than last year", highlighting that Portugal is "very close" to reaching the 75% target proposed by the WHO for people over 65 years of age.

The expert also highlights the "massive uptake" of vaccination by people aged 85 or over, who are receiving the high-dose vaccine free of charge in health centers for the first time.

“Vaccination against flu and even against Covid-19 once again confirmed the excellent safety record,” he added.

Regarding the high-dose vaccine, administered free of charge to people aged 85 or over at health centers, in the total sample studied in the vaccinometer, 50.9% do not know that a vaccine with these characteristics is available for this population.

The place of acquisition/administration of the vaccine varies according to the target population, with all health professionals surveyed receiving the vaccine at work, the population over 80 and 85 years old and pregnant women receiving the vaccine mostly at the Health Center and the population over 60, between 60 and 64 and over 65 mostly received it at the pharmacy.

Among those who have not been vaccinated, 52% of those aged 85 or over still intend to be vaccinated, the same happening with 25.5% of unvaccinated people aged 65 or over and 24.2% of those who have not been vaccinated. chronically ill.

In the case of health professionals, 22.7% of unvaccinated professionals expressed their intention to get vaccinated this flu season and, in the group between 60 and 64 years old, 13% of unvaccinated people interviewed still intend to do so this flu season. flu. The main reason for not getting vaccinated was that it was not a habit (51.2%).

In relation to the co-administration of vaccines against influenza and against covid-19, and taking data from the previous wave as a reference, the rate of co-administration among groups with recommendations increased slightly (from 76.6% to 77.3%), even though The main reason for deciding to receive both vaccines at the same time remains the same (wanting to be protected and considering that both are important for health).

The vaccinometer was launched in 2009 and data from the second wave were collected between October 23rd and 28th.

The initiative allows monitoring, in real time, the flu vaccination coverage rate in priority groups recommended by the State Department of Health.

The seasonal vaccination campaign against flu and covid-19 began on September 20 and is taking place simultaneously in thousands of pharmacies across the country and in SUS units.