More than 33,000 hospitalizations and around 1,800 intensive care unit admissions occurred due to influenza across Spain between week 40 of 2024 and week 20 of 2025, according to data from the GRIPEXPERT expert group.
The group also reported nearly 1,800 deaths related to influenza during this period.
Structural Prevention Over Seasonal Campaigns
The expert group GRIPEXPERT highlighted the fundamental necessity of addressing influenza prevention as a structural public health priority rather than strictly concentrating efforts on a vaccination campaign during the autumn and winter months.
The organization presented the ‘White Paper on Influenza in Spain 2026-2027: Recommendations, evidence, and challenges’, which proposes 14 specific measures derived from 77 initial proposals to enhance protection for vulnerable populations and move toward a more equitable and evaluable preventive strategy.
The document was developed through the analysis of eight core areas, including disease burden, sanitary impact, vulnerable populations, vaccination coverage, enhanced vaccines, organization of vaccination, communication and governance, resilience, and investment. The report shows that the response continues to face challenges extending beyond vaccine availability, including insufficient coverage rates, territorial disparities in access, and difficulties in homogeneously measuring clinical outcomes.
The infection triggers respiratory complications while also potentially instigating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, exacerbating chronic conditions, and fostering frailty and dependency among older adults.
Infection Risks and Benefits of Targeted Vaccines
Broadened Risk Awareness: The infection can trigger cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, exacerbate chronic diseases, and favor frailty, loss of autonomy, and dependency, especially among older adults.
Targeted Immunization Value: Higher-immunogenicity vaccines utilized in older adults demonstrate additional reductions in hospitalization risks ranging from 11 to 18 percent compared to standard formulations.
Multivalent Protection Campaigns: Parallel public health initiatives led by organizations like the Asociación Española de Vacunología target concurrent protection against influenza, COVID-19, and pneumococcal infections.
Maternal Vaccination Protects Infants from Community Transmission
The Asociación Española de Vacunología launched its campaign titled 'El mejor plan para este invierno.
“Cubrimos esta falta de defensas durante los primeros seis meses de vida a través de la vacunación materna,” explained Fernando Moraga-Llop, pediatrician and spokesperson for the Asociación Española de Vacunología. The vaccine is recommended during any trimester of pregnancy to deliver protection to infants during their first months of life when they cannot yet be vaccinated.
Children aged six months to five years represent a primary vector for community transmission. Moraga-Llop said that three out of four children under five hospitalized for influenza during the 2023/2024 season lacked chronic underlying conditions. Vaccination coverage in children aged one to four reached 52.4% in the 2025/2026 season, compared to 45.5% in the previous season, remaining beneath the 60% target established by the Ministry of Health.
| Demographic Group | Recent Coverage Rate | Target Coverage Objective |
|---|---|---|
| Adults Aged 65 and Older | 58.47% | 75% |
| Pregnant Individuals | 61% | 75% |
Sustained Preventive Strategies Address Healthcare Capacity and Disparities
Ángel Gil, member of GRIPEXPERT and catedrático de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública de la Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, said that the impact on vulnerable populations and healthcare capacity demands a sustained preventive strategy backed by evidence-based decision-making and rigorous evaluation.
The White Paper outlines eight structural areas encompassing disease burden, sanitary impact, vulnerable populations, vaccination coverage, enhanced vaccines, administration organization, communication, governance, resilience, and investment. Regional disparities persist across autonomous communities regarding general coverage rates and access to enhanced immunogenicity vaccines for older adults and high-risk groups.
References
- Diario Estrategia. Expertos piden que la prevención gripal sea una prioridad estructural y no se centre solo en una campaña en meses fríos.
- 20Minutos. Los expertos llaman a vacunar a este grupo de edad contra la gripe: “Son el principal transmisor”.
- Gaceta Médica. Se propone una modificación en el enfoque de inmunización contra el virus de la gripe con el fin de brindar una defensa superior a la tercera edad.
- Asociación Española de Vacunología. Con el propósito de resguardar a los sectores más frágiles durante la temporada fría, la Asociación Española de Vacunología aconseja intensificar la campaña de inmunización dirigida a embarazadas, menores y adultos mayores.
