Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico – As the winter season approaches, the State of Jalisco is taking proactive steps to safeguard its residents’ health. The annual influenza vaccination campaign is set to kick off on October 7, 2024, offering free flu shots at local health centers and hospitals.
The campaign aims to inoculate the entire population of the Eighth Health Region, including Puerto Vallarta, with nearly 60,000 doses of the influenza vaccine. To ensure maximum protection, priority will be given to at-risk groups such as children, the elderly (adults over 60 years of age), individuals with chronic conditions, pregnant women, and healthcare workers.
Dr. Jaime Álvarez Zayas, director of the Eighth Health Region, emphasized the importance of vaccination for preventing severe influenza complications. “While we encourage everyone to get vaccinated, we are prioritizing those most vulnerable to the virus,” he stated.
“If those that I just mentioned get sick from influenza there is a risk of increasing the degree of complications,” the health director explained.
Free flu shots will be available from Monday to Friday mornings at all local health centers, including the Puerto Vallarta Centro de Salud, Naval Hospital, Regional Hospital, and hospitals in municipal capitals like Mascota and Tomatlán.
Dr. Álvarez Zayas stressed that vaccination is not only essential for individual health but also crucial for community protection. Given the potential risks associated with influenza, especially for at-risk populations, the VIII Health Region urges all residents to visit designated healthcare centers to receive their free flu shot.