Free seasonal vaccination against flu and Covid-19 will be extended to the population between the ages of 50 and 59 from Tuesday, according to the Directorate-General for Health (DGS).

People between 50 and 59 years old “can schedule vaccination against flu and Covid-19 from December 17, 2024 [Tuesday] at a health unit of the National Health Service or at participating community pharmacies”, said the DGS in a statement.

The expansion to this age group “happens in view of the evolution of the current vaccination campaign and the availability of vaccines”, said the Secretariat, highlighting that, to optimise individual and collective protection, scheduling should preferably be done before the festive period.

Vaccination of people aged 60 or over, people with comorbidities, healthcare professionals and other risk groups remains a priority, the statement said. With winter approaching, a period of greater circulation of respiratory viruses, the DGS called on eligible groups to get vaccinated, “especially with the approach of Christmas festivities, moments of family and friends gatherings”.

According to the latest data from the Secretariat, between September 20, when the current vaccination campaign began, and December 8, 1,467,039 people were vaccinated with the seasonal booster against Covid-19 and 2,207,428 people against the flu.

The autumn-winter seasonal vaccination campaign is taking place in more than 3,500 vaccination points across the country, with the priority being to protect the most vulnerable people, preventing serious illness, hospitalisation and death.