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Mexico Sets Mid-October Flu and COVID Vaccination Drive as Asturias Begins Oct. 14 With New Booster Policy

Free vaccination through public providers includes guidance for same‑day flu–COVID dosing to accelerate pre‑winter protection.

Overview

  • Mexico’s Health Ministry has confirmed a mid‑October launch for the combined influenza and COVID‑19 campaign, with reports citing either Oct. 13 or Oct. 15 as the start and an end date of April 3, 2026.
  • Shots will be available at no cost across IMSS, ISSSTE, IMSS‑Bienestar, Pemex and state services, with mobile brigades to reach rural and hard‑to‑access communities.
  • The program will use a tetravalent inactivated influenza vaccine and updated mRNA COVID‑19 boosters (Spikevax and Comirnaty LP.8.1), which may be administered on the same day, even in the same arm with 2.5–5 cm separation.
  • Priority groups include children 6 months to 4 years 11 months, adults 60 and older, pregnant women, health workers, and people 5–59 with comorbidities, with a national coverage goal of at least 70% by December 26, 2025.
  • In Spain’s Asturias, vaccinations start October 14 with the COVID‑19 booster recommendation raised to age 70 and first‑time use of the Spanish Hypra vaccine alongside Pfizer, with care‑home residents immunized first.