According to the latest report from the Seasonal Health Response Surveillance and Monitoring of the Directorate-General of Health (DGS), relating to the week of December 15-21, there was a total increase in hospital emergency room visits (124,237, +1.9% compared to the previous week) and an increase in the proportion of emergency room visits due to acute respiratory infection (9.1%, +0.2 percentage points).

An increase was also observed in the proportion of emergency room visits due to flu-like symptoms (4.93%, +0.08 percentage points).

Appeal

Health authorities have reinforced their appeal for vaccination due to the increase in acute respiratory infections and cases of influenza, which have caused a surge in demand for emergency services, INEM (National Institute of Medical Emergency), and the SNS 24 (National Health Service 24-hour helpline).

Data published in the DGS (Directorate-General of Health) seasonal vaccination report indicates that influenza vaccination coverage in people over 85 years old is at 86.74%, in the 80-84 age group it is at 77.88%, in the 70-79 age group it is at 74.21%, and in those over 65 years old it is at 71.94%.

The extension of seasonal vaccination to all children aged 6 to 23 months, regardless of whether they are healthy or belong to risk groups, constitutes the main novelty of the 2025/2026 Seasonal Vaccination Campaign.

Since the start of the seasonal vaccination campaign on September 23rd, 58,009 children aged between six and 23 months have been immunized, corresponding to a vaccination coverage of 44.69%.

Covid-19 vaccination

Covid-19 vaccination coverage is lower than that for influenza, reaching 59.06% in those over 85 years old, 47.74% between 80 and 84 years old, 42.83% between 70 and 79 years old, and 42.86% in those over 65 years old.

The latest report from the Seasonal Health Response Surveillance and Monitoring, relating to the week of December 15th to 21st, 2025, shows that Portugal registers "epidemic influenza activity with an increasing trend".

This week, there was an increase in the proportion of hospital emergency room visits for influenza cases in children under one year old (4.6%, +0.2 percentage points compared to the previous week) and in people aged 65 or older (21.5%; +1.5 percentage points compared to the previous week).

There was also an increase in the seven-day moving average of ward bed occupancy for all causes (80.9%) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) bed occupancy for all causes (72.1%).

The proportion of patients diagnosed with influenza admitted to the ICU, reported by the Hospital Network for Clinical and Laboratory Surveillance in ICUs, decreased to 9%.