WaypointSur
Edited by Andrew Lawrence
One date comes off the calendar
If the kitchen calendar has spent this autumn collecting strike dates in pencil around a November appointment at the health centre, one of those strike dates can be rubbed out today.
The Sindicato Médico Andaluz — Andalusian Doctors' Union had called a strike starting today, Friday 13 November. It called that strike off on 3 November, because the Junta de Andalucía, the regional government that runs the public health service, offered improvements on a timetable that runs into 2027.
So after a season of strikes big and small, anyone on the Costa del Sol with a health appointment has one fewer to plan around. That seems reason enough to raise a glass of wine at lunch to workers' rights, with a quiet ¡Viva la revolución! — long live the revolution, for the one that was called off.
What Wednesday's general strike did
A separate, nationwide general strike did go ahead on Wednesday 11 November, so the week was hardly strike-free. The Junta counted 4% of the public health service's morning-shift staff out across Andalucía, and 3.81% in Málaga province, and said the health service ran normally.
Those figures are the Junta's count of the morning shift, and they count staff rather than appointments.
The strike that is still announced
A newer union, Sindicato Médicos Unidos — United Doctors' Union, says its doctors' strike from Monday 16 to Friday 27 November includes Andalucía. How many doctors will join it is not yet known.
For any appointment in those two weeks, keep the booking and check with your health centre before travelling.
Walk-in jabs from Wednesday 18 November
A week with one fewer strike in it is a good week to sort out a jab. From Wednesday 18 November, participating health centres vaccinate against flu and COVID without an appointment on Wednesdays, and the plan is to carry on until Wednesday 16 December, supply permitting (Confirmed 12 November 2026).
The start moved from 11 November, the date that earlier issues, ours included, gave, so anyone who had the 11th written down can move it on a week. Only participating centres do walk-ins, so ask yours whether it is one of them and what its hours are before setting off.
If a fixed time suits better, booking is open now on ClicSalud+, the Andalusian health service's online booking site, under Vacunación Gripe/COVID — flu/COVID vaccination.
Who qualifies, and who can come along
The two jabs have different age lines, and people in their sixties are the ones caught between them. The flu jab is for anyone aged 60 or over, or in a listed risk group. The COVID jab is for anyone aged 70 or over, or with a qualifying condition, so turning 60 gets you the flu jab and does not, by itself, get you the COVID one.
People who live with or care for someone eligible can be vaccinated alongside them, supply permitting, with flu from six months old and COVID from the age of 12. That is good news for the adult child who shares a house with a parent or looks after one, although simply going along to the appointment does not by itself qualify you.
If you have public cover, private insurance on top of it changes nothing, and everything above applies. If your only cover is private, the flu jab goes through your insurer, although members of Spain's civil-servant health schemes who live in some small towns may be able to book at the health centre instead. A COVID jab you qualify for is given at the Servicio Andaluz de Salud — Andalusian Health Service whatever your cover, and if a chronic condition is the reason you qualify, take a report from your doctor. Our guide to who qualifies for flu and COVID jabs in Andalucía this winter goes through the risk groups.
Spanish-lite
Two questions for the health-centre desk, in person or by phone.
¿Vacunan sin cita el miércoles, y a qué hora? — Do you vaccinate without an appointment on Wednesday, and at what time? Ask this before the first walk-in Wednesday, because the answer tells you both whether your centre takes part and when to turn up.
¿Mi cita del día 20 sigue en pie? — Is my appointment on the 20th still on? Swap in your own date, and use it for anything booked between 16 and 27 November.
The bottom line
One strike called off is a small thing and a welcome one, and it is worth enjoying this weekend while the next one is still only an announcement. The good mood is best spent on a jab, so book one on ClicSalud+ or ask your centre about walk-in Wednesdays from 18 November. Anything already booked between 16 and 27 November deserves a phone call first.
Enjoy the weekend — A. and the WaypointSur team, glasses raised and sleeves rolled up.
