On December 21, Ecuador held its second nationwide “Vacunatón,” a mass vaccination campaign aimed at increasing immunization coverage for both the regular vaccine schedule and influenza. The event was organized under the direction of President Daniel Noboa and Vice President María José Pinto, with coordination by the Ministry of Public Health.
According to official figures, 319,848 people received vaccines at 709 sites across all provinces. Of these, 3,003 were vaccinated according to the regular schedule, while 316,845 received influenza shots. These new numbers add to the 399,658 individuals who had already been vaccinated between November 28 and December 20. In total, 716,503 people have been immunized so far during this campaign.
The Ministry of Public Health noted that vaccination is especially important during the months from November to January due to increased circulation of influenza viruses. The national campaign will continue until March 2026 with a focus on protecting priority groups.
Eugenio Naula, a resident of Santa Isabel in Azuay province who is 68 years old, shared his experience: “I went out shopping at the market with my wife and saw they were vaccinating people, so we got in line for our dose. We want to be protected and avoid serious complications.”
In Quito, Inés Lara, age 51 and living with hypertension, said: “Today I went to Portal Shopping mall to get my flu shot. Vaccination is a way to take care of ourselves. I thank the Ministry of Health for bringing these services closer to citizens and promoting campaigns that protect our health.”
The outcomes from both rounds of Vacunatón reflect coordinated efforts by public health professionals as well as community participation in disease prevention.
Rodrigo Armijos from Loja encouraged others who have not yet been vaccinated to do so: “I believe this vaccine is very important for counteracting respiratory illnesses that can cause problems and complications. From past experience, it’s a safe and effective vaccine.”
Amado Vinueza Ramírez visited the Municipal Shopping Center in Portoviejo and commented: “I congratulate the Ministry of Health for placing vaccination points in busy areas so we can get immunized and be protected against influenza.”
Vice President María José Pinto will continue leading preventive actions nationwide with an emphasis on children, older adults, and vulnerable populations needing timely healthcare services. Citizens are also reminded to maintain preventive measures such as frequent handwashing, wearing masks if experiencing flu symptoms, and getting vaccinated at their nearest health center.
