QCOSTARICA — Children, seniors, pregnant women, and people with chronic illnesses are among those most urged to get vaccinated against influenza immediately, according to the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Soical (CCSS).
These groups are at greatest risk of suffering serious complications from this highly contagious virus.
The annual seasonal influenza vaccination campaign began on Tuesday.
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The vaccination being carried out in all health centers across the country seeks to curb the spread of outbreaks that, according to recent data, have caused more than 1,800 cases in the first weeks of 2025, with a particularly high incidence in the Central Pacific region.
According to the National Commission on Vaccination and Epidemiology (CNVE), the groups that be vaccinated this year are:
- Children over 6 months of age and under 8 years of age, regardless of their health status.
- Those 58 years of age and older, regardless of other risk factors.
- Pregnant women, at any stage of pregnancy.
- Population aged 8 to 57 years with a chronic illness (diabetes, heart disease, grade I, II, III, or morbid obesity, chronic respiratory diseases (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, or tuberculosis), Down syndrome, kidney disease, cerebral palsy, severe and moderate malnutrition, cancer, and primary, secondary, or acquired immunodeficiencies, vasculitis, functional asplenia, and sickle cell disease).
- Health sector workers from the CCSS (including third-party contracts), the Ministry of Health, the Red Cross, firefighters, and police forces, as well as SENASA officials, 9-1-1 call center workers, and Immigration and Foreign Affairs.
- Health science students and related technicians who conduct clinical training in CCSS health facilities.
Also included are officials from the National Center for Child Care and Development (CEN-CINAI), the National Network for Child Care and Development (Red CUDI), and INCIENSA, as they are part of the Ministry of Health. In the case of the Red Cross and Firefighters, their volunteers are also included.
In addition, caregivers for seniors in long-term care homes, teaching staff at primary and secondary education centers (public and private), and solid waste collectors (public and private) will be vaccinated.
It is important to remember that other health sector workers, not previously mentioned, will be vaccinated if they have any of the risks established by the CNVE.
It should be noted that, according to the Technical Report on Acute Respiratory Diseases of the CCSS, corresponding to epidemiological week 7-2025, influenza viruses (A and B) have shown high transmissibility, causing community outbreaks with high morbidity and hospitalizations.
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Furthermore, during the first seven weeks of 2025, a total of 1,817 cases of influenza were reported, with a cumulative incidence rate of 34 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. An increase in cases has been identified in recent epidemiological weeks, especially in the Central Pacific region, which had the highest cumulative incidence rate.
“Getting vaccinated is not only a way to take care of ourselves, but also to protect those around us,” emphasized Mary Munive, Minister of Health.
Influenza is a highly infectious disease that occurs seasonally and has high infection rates, increasing outpatient visits to health services and hospitalizations, making it a public health problem.
Data from the Health Statistics Department of the CCSS indicate that, during 2024 alone, 132,663 people were treated for acute upper respiratory infections, including influenza, in outpatient clinics and 433,294 patients in emergency departments. That same year, influenza vaccination coverage reached 29.2% among children, 44.8% among pregnant women, and 48.8% among the elderly population.
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For this 2025 vaccination campaign, the CCSS purchased 1,500,000 doses of the vaccine. People in at-risk groups can be vaccinated at any of the institution’s health facilities, provided doses are available, regardless of their location.
Where can you get vaccinated?
Visit to your nearest Ebais, clinic, or hospital. The vaccine will be available at all CCSS health facilities, regardless of where you live, as long as doses are available.
Bring your cedula or health ID card.
People in at-risk groups can be vaccinated at any of the CCSS health facilities, provided doses are available, regardless of their location and without the need for an appointment.
If you don’t want to make the line or not in the CCSS at-risk, you can get the vaccine at phamarcies, private hospitals, and clinics at a cost of about ¢8,000 colones.
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