Child flu hospital cases: 3 in 4 had no chronic illness

Flu puts children without known chronic illness in hospital: three in four under-fives admitted with it during Spain’s 2023–2024 season had no such condition. The Spanish Association of Vaccinology highlights the figure in Madrid on Thursday, 5 November, as it calls for more children aged six to 59 months and pregnant women to get flu jabs. Vaccination rates for both groups remain below targets set by Spain’s Ministry of Health.

Flu jab uptake falls short

Last season, 61 per cent of pregnant women received a flu jab, against a target of 75 per cent. The association says vaccination aims to protect the woman and her baby, who receives antibodies from her.

The flu jab has been part of Spain’s common vaccination schedule for children aged six to 59 months since 2023. Among one- to four-year-olds, uptake rose from 45.5 per cent to 52.4 per cent in the 2025–2026 season, still below the 60 per cent target. The association says the jab can cut the risk of hospital admission in children aged six to 59 months by up to 77 per cent.

Wider vaccination appeal

The association’s national campaign also promotes vaccination against COVID-19 and pneumococcus, a cause of pneumonia. It urges people aged 60 and over and those in risk groups to get a flu jab, people over 65 to be vaccinated against pneumococcus, and people over 70 to get a COVID-19 jab.

The appeal comes after a heavy flu season. According to provisional Ministry of Health estimates, flu caused 46,000 hospital admissions, 2,000 intensive care admissions and 3,400 deaths in Spain during 2025–2026. COVID-19 caused an estimated 5,300 hospital admissions and 480 deaths.

Topics: Health

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com