Flu can lead to intensive care, Spanish doctors warn

Flu can put patients in intensive care: Spanish doctors are urging health workers and the public to get vaccinated as a new season begins. In Madrid, Spain, on 9 October 2026, the Spanish Society of Intensive Care Medicine, Critical Care and Coronary Units warned that the infection can have serious consequences.

Flu risks can last for weeks

Older people, pregnant women and people with long-term illnesses are among those most at risk. Flu can develop into severe pneumonia, cause breathing to fail or make an existing illness worse. Some patients need intensive care.

The society also says flu has been linked to a higher risk of certain heart and blood-vessel problems, including heart attacks and strokes, in the weeks after infection.

Why doctors still recommend the jab

No vaccine prevents every infection, and its effectiveness can change from season to season. But the society says a flu jab reduces the risk of severe illness and may cut the need for hospital care, intensive care and breathing support.

For health workers caring for critically ill patients, vaccination also helps protect their own health and reduce the risk of passing flu on in healthcare settings. The society is urging everyone for whom health authorities recommend the jab to have it each season.

Topics: Social affairs · Health

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com