Portugal’s Flu Campaign Nears 2.5M as Hospitals Strain and Toddlers Get Jabs

Portugal’s winter vaccination drive is hitting its marks even as hospital corridors grow crowded. An early flu surge, sluggish COVID-19 booster uptake and the arrival of a more contagious H3N2 strain have combined to stretch emergency departments, triggering fresh pleas from health officials: get the jab now, not after symptoms appear.

Key takeaways at a glance

• 2.49 M flu inoculations delivered – just shy of the 2.5 M target set for Christmas.

• Children 6–23 months benefit from free shots for the first time; coverage sits at 44.7 %.

• COVID-19 boosters lag, with only 1.32 M people rolling up their sleeves so far.

• Emergency visits tied to acute respiratory infections rose to 124 237 in the week ending 21 December.

• Several hospitals have moved to contingency level 2, opening extra beds and re-imposing mask rules.

A near miss that still matters

Flu vaccination coverage in Portugal’s oldest citizens remains the envy of many European neighbours. Nearly 87 % of residents over 85 are protected and the 70–79 cohort already tops 74 %. That performance puts the country within touching distance of the national goal, yet officials refuse to declare victory. The statistical uptick in admissions – particularly among babies under 1 year and adults over 65 – shows that even high percentages leave tens of thousands vulnerable.

What is driving hospital pressure?

Epidemiologists at the Directorate-General of Health link the current spike to two overlapping trends:

Early circulation of H3N2, a subtype only partially matched by this season’s vaccine.

Slow COVID-19 booster acceptance, which amplifies the burden of dual infections in older adults.

The result has been a 1.9 % week-on-week jump in emergency visits, with ward occupancy at 80.9 % and ICU beds at 72.1 %. While the share of flu patients needing intensive care dipped to 9 %, administrators worry that figure could climb after the holiday gatherings common in Portugal from Christmas through Dia de Reis.

How the SNS is responding

Local health units from Coimbra to Beja have dusted off winter contingency blueprints: opening step-down wards, restricting non-urgent surgery, enforcing universal masking and, in some cases, limiting visitor numbers. The Ministry of Health confirms that more than 2 500 community pharmacies remain stocked with free flu doses for priority groups, a network credited with accelerating uptake in rural districts.

Toddlers move to the front of the queue

The headline change in this season’s programme is the decision to offer the flu shot to every child under 2, regardless of risk profile. Authorities cite data showing hospitalisation rates in toddlers rival those seen in the elderly. Early figures – 58 009 infants protected – suggest paediatricians’ persuasion matters; 71 % of parents who acted said their doctor’s advice was decisive.

Why COVID-19 boosters trail behind

Behavioural scientists at the University of Porto note ‘pandemic fatigue’ and fewer workplace mandates as key deterrents. The contrast is stark: 59 % of people over 85 have renewed their COVID-19 immunity versus 86 % for flu. Co-administration at clinics was meant to bridge that gap, but demand remains tepid despite no additional cost and an appointment system that allows both injections in one visit.

Looking ahead: the next four weeks

• Holiday travel and colder weather are expected to keep the reproduction number above 1 until mid-January.• Experts predict a second, smaller COVID-19 bump if booster rates fail to exceed 60 % among seniors.• The Directorate-General of Health plans to publish region-by-region dashboards so municipalities can target outreach where coverage stalls.

In the meantime, health leaders repeat a simple message: the vaccine takes about two weeks to build protection. With seasonal festivities still unfolding across Portugal, getting vaccinated now is the surest way to avoid spending the new year in an overcrowded emergency ward.