Panama - This coming Monday, the national influenza vaccination campaign will begin, following the arrival of the first shipment of 384,000 doses of the vaccine in the country last Wednesday. The doses will be administered free of charge in the facilities of the Ministry of Health (Minsa), the Social Security Fund (CSS), and private hospitals nationwide. This first delivery is part of Panama's total purchase of 1,200,000 doses of influenza vaccines for the year 2026, with the goal of protecting the population from a virus that is constantly evolving and poses a significant risk to the most vulnerable groups. In the coming days, the country will receive the remaining three shipments, consisting of 384,000 and 98,000 doses, which will complete the immunization schedule planned by the health authorities. Minsa reiterated that annual influenza vaccination is essential, as immunity decreases over time and the virus strains change each year, which requires updating the vaccine to ensure better protection.
In addition to reducing contagion, the vaccine decreases the risk of serious complications, hospitalizations, and even deaths. Health authorities are urging people to go to vaccination centers starting this Monday, especially to priority groups, including: adults over 60 years of age, pregnant women, children under 5 years of age (with an emphasis on children under 1 year old), patients with chronic diseases, people with compromised immune systems, patients with cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, or hepatic diseases, people with sickle cell anemia, health sciences officials and students, and essential and high-risk workers.
