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Argentina Brings Forward 2026 Flu Campaign as First Doses Roll Out Nationwide

Officials target early protection for priority groups after surveillance found widespread circulation of A(H3N2) subclade K.

Overview

  • The Health Ministry has begun distributing an initial 795,760 doses to all jurisdictions, including adjuvanted shots for adults 65 and over, as part of 8,160,000 doses procured for 2026.
  • Vaccination is free for health workers, pregnant people, children 6–24 months, adults 65 and older, and those aged 2–64 with risk conditions under the National Vaccination Calendar.
  • Genomic surveillance reported an upward trend in influenza and detected A(H3N2) subclade K in 68% of 112 sequenced samples, with 76 cases identified across 19 jurisdictions.
  • In the first six weeks of 2026, Argentina logged 45,485 influenza-like illness cases; 73.2% of analyzed cases were unvaccinated, hospitalizations skewed older, and one influenza-associated death was reported.
  • Provinces are offering walk-in vaccination at public sites, and Mendoza warned residents about scams, stressing it does not call or text to assign appointments or request personal data.