Overview
- Hospitals report heavy pressure from respiratory illness, with clinicians saying more than 90% of recent consultations are for breathing problems and a Salta children’s hospital logging peaks of about 350 pediatric visits per day.
- Multiple viruses are circulating at once, including rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus and influenza, and doctors are seeing illnesses that range from colds to bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
- Flu-shot coverage has fallen to roughly 50% in some groups, and specialists say that drop risks eroding herd protection and driving more severe cases and hospital stays.
- The national campaign has offered free flu shots since March for priority groups such as health workers, children 6–24 months, pregnant and postpartum people, adults 65 and older, and those with risk conditions, and PAMI is vaccinating its older members at pharmacies at no cost.
- People outside those groups face barriers in some provinces, with reports from Mendoza putting a private flu shot near 65,000 pesos, while health authorities urge practical steps like handwashing, good ventilation, masks when symptomatic and maternal vaccination in late pregnancy to protect newborns.