Valencia expands vaccination schedule for adolescents and adults

The Valencian Health Department has updated the regional vaccination calendar, introducing several key changes to enhance public health protection. A primary update is the inclusion of a systematic meningococcus B vaccine dose for 12-year-olds. This measure aims to reinforce protection in adolescents against Neisseria meningitidis, a bacterium that can cause meningitis or sepsis. While the infection is relatively infrequent, it can progress rapidly and lead to severe consequences, including death or permanent disabilities such as hearing loss and neurological damage.

Under the new protocols, adolescents who received the vaccine during infancy will receive a booster dose at age 12. The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination period has also been extended to include individuals up to age 25. Additionally, immunization against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) has been extended to adults identified as being at very high risk. These updates, published in the Official Gazette of the Generalitat Valenciana, take effect this Wednesday.