The Valencian Community’s seasonal respiratory-virus campaign will start on 28 September in care homes, disability support centres and second-cycle nursery classrooms, alongside protection for babies against respiratory syncytial virus. It will not open to everyone at once: the remaining eligible groups join from 5 October, while the general phase is due during November.
The regional health department is bringing flu and COVID-19 vaccination together with RSV protection, which helps prevent bronchiolitis. That does not mean everyone is offered all three. Age, pregnancy, living arrangements and certain medical or immunosuppressive conditions determine which protection is recommended.
Who is included first
Older residents and people living in disability support centres will be offered flu and COVID-19 vaccines and, where indicated, RSV protection. Special education centres will offer flu and COVID-19 vaccination. For children born in 2021, 2022 and 2023 who attend the second cycle of nursery school, the school programme will focus on a nasal flu vaccine unless it is unsuitable and the healthcare team recommends another option. Vaccination is voluntary and requires family consent.
Children aged 6 to 71 months who are not covered by the school programme because of their age can receive a flu vaccine at their health centre. Primary care teams will deliver the school doses under the arrangements agreed by the health and education departments.
Babies born during the season will preferably receive RSV protection in the first 24 to 48 hours after birth, before leaving hospital. Primary care will also identify babies born from 1 April 2026 who should receive it. This protection uses monoclonal antibodies and is not the same intervention as a conventional vaccine.
The timetable widens on 5 October
The second phase covers the other groups for whom one or more of these products is recommended, giving priority to older people and those at greater risk of complications. Flu vaccination is recommended for groups including people aged 60 and over, children aged 6 to 71 months, pregnant women and people with certain health conditions. COVID-19 vaccination is aimed particularly at people aged 70 and over, residents of institutions and patients with specified risk conditions or immunosuppression.
Adult RSV vaccination is not being offered universally. The regional plan limits it to residents aged 60 and over and adults with certain very high-risk conditions. Where several products are indicated, the health department recommends giving them during the same visit: co-administration does not reduce protection and avoids separate appointments.
Where protection will be provided
Health centres will be the main route for people joining the campaign from October. Depending on the group, there will also be arrangements in care homes, hospitals, outpatient clinics, preventive medicine units and occupational health services. Spain’s national recommendation says seasonal vaccination provided as a public-health measure does not require a prior diagnosis or prescription, although invitations and practical arrangements are set by each local health department.
The November phase will widen access to the general population. Until then, belonging to an eligible group does not mean attending without notice on the first day: services will organise invitations and appointments by age, risk and availability. Any change to the dates, eligible groups or booking process would require this timetable to be updated.
Original editorial illustration about the respiratory-virus protection campaign. This AI-generated conceptual image does not document a real vaccination or healthcare facility.