Protecting ourselves is a collective task, not a solo one.
As winter descends on Chile's O'Higgins region, public health officials have gathered not merely to sound an alarm, but to extend an invitation — one that asks communities to understand prevention as a form of mutual care. The 'Team Cuidarnos' campaign, launched in Rancagua in early June 2026, reflects a recurring human challenge: how to translate collective knowledge into individual action before illness arrives, not after. With 72.5 percent of eligible residents vaccinated against influenza — above the national average, yet short of the 85 percent goal — the region stands at a familiar threshold where progress and vulnerability coexist.
- Winter is approaching and two of the most vulnerable groups — adults over 60 and young children under five — remain below 60% vaccination coverage, leaving them exposed to a season already carrying Influenza A and B, Parainfluenza, Rhinovirus, and Adenovirus.
- Regional authorities convened a public launch in Rancagua, uniting the presidential delegate, health secretary, hospital directors, and the city's mayor in a rare show of institutional alignment around a single preventive message.
- The health system has doubled its resources compared to last year, expanding to 150 adult and 32 pediatric critical care beds and extending primary care hours — a signal that officials are preparing for demand they hope vaccination will reduce.
- The campaign pushes five concrete behaviors — hand hygiene, mask use when sick, ventilation, timely vaccination, and responsible healthcare access — framing prevention as something done together, not imposed from above.
- The region has a narrow window: vaccination must climb from 72.5% to 85% before winter officially begins, and whether the two lagging groups respond to the call will determine how much of that infrastructure actually gets tested.
On a Tuesday morning in early June, health and municipal officials gathered at a primary care clinic in Rancagua to launch 'Team Cuidarnos,' a winter respiratory disease prevention campaign for the O'Higgins region of Chile. The initiative carries a straightforward message — get vaccinated against influenza, wash your hands, wear a mask when sick, open your windows, and use the healthcare system responsibly — but its urgency is real: winter is coming, and not enough people are protected yet.
The campaign was presented by a broad coalition of officials, including regional presidential delegate Susana Pinto, health secretary Dr. Daniela Zavando, acting health service director Carlos Saavedra, and Rancagua mayor Raimundo Agliati. Pinto framed vaccination as a collective responsibility, calling on families — especially children, elderly people, and pregnant women — to visit their local health centers. 'Protecting ourselves is a collective task,' she said.
The numbers reveal both progress and concern. Of roughly 566,000 eligible residents, about 410,600 have been vaccinated, placing regional coverage at 72.5 percent — slightly above the national average of 71.4 percent. But two groups fall well below that figure: adults over 60 and children between six months and five years old, both under 60 percent. Dr. Zavando identified these gaps as the campaign's primary target, with authorities aiming to reach 85 percent coverage before winter officially begins.
Circulating viruses this season include Influenza A and B, Parainfluenza, Rhinovirus, and Adenovirus. To meet anticipated demand, the health service has doubled its resources compared to last year, with 150 adult critical care beds, 32 pediatric critical care beds, and extended hours at primary care clinics. Mayor Agliati praised health workers already moving through the municipality to bring vaccination closer to residents, while Saavedra emphasized that hospitals are staffed, supplied, and ready. The infrastructure is in place — the remaining question is whether the community will act in time.
On a Tuesday morning in early June, as winter approached the O'Higgins region of Chile, regional health officials gathered at a primary care clinic in Rancagua to unveil a new public health campaign. The initiative, called "Team Cuidarnos"—roughly, "Team Let's Take Care of Ourselves"—aims to prepare the community for the respiratory illnesses that surge when temperatures drop. The campaign centers on a simple message: vaccinate against influenza, wash your hands frequently, wear a mask if you're sick, open your windows, and use the healthcare system wisely.
The event brought together the regional presidential delegate, Susana Pinto; the regional health secretary, Dr. Daniela Zavando; the acting director of the O'Higgins Health Service, Carlos Saavedra; the mayor of Rancagua, Raimundo Agliati; and other municipal and health officials. They came to discuss the epidemiological landscape heading into winter and to push vaccination uptake among groups that remain underprotected. Pinto framed the campaign as a shared responsibility, calling on families—particularly children, elderly people, pregnant women, and those in high-risk categories—to seek out vaccination at local health centers. "Protecting ourselves is a collective task," she said, emphasizing that vaccination saves lives.
The numbers tell a story of progress with gaps. Across the O'Higgins region, roughly 566,000 people are eligible for flu vaccination. As of the campaign launch, about 410,600 had received the shot, yielding a coverage rate of 72.5 percent—actually above the national average of 71.4 percent. Yet that aggregate masks a troubling pattern. Two populations lag significantly: people over 60 and children between six months and five years old, both sitting below 60 percent coverage. Dr. Zavando flagged this disparity as a concern, noting that the region still has time to push toward the target of 85 percent coverage before winter officially begins.
The viruses circulating in the region include Influenza A and B, Parainfluenza, Rhinovirus, and Adenovirus—a mix typical of the season. To handle the expected surge in respiratory illness, the health service has reinforced its hospital network and doubled resources compared to the previous year. The region now has 150 adult critical care beds and 32 pediatric critical care beds available. Primary care clinics have extended their hours to accommodate more patients.
Mayor Agliati acknowledged the work of health workers who have been moving through the municipality to bring vaccination closer to residents, and he urged people to check municipal social media and other platforms for vaccination site information. Saavedra, the acting health service director, underscored the infrastructure readiness: hospitals are staffed and supplied, beds are prepared, and the system is positioned to respond. The message from all officials was consistent—vaccination is the primary tool, the window to get protected is still open, and the region is ready. What remains is whether the community, particularly those two lagging age groups, will respond to the call.
Notable Quotes
Vaccination is an action that protects lives. Through Team Cuidarnos, we reinforce the importance of self-care and preventing respiratory diseases that increase during winter.— Susana Pinto, Regional Presidential Delegate
We have 72% coverage, but two groups concern us—those over 60 and children between 6 months and 5 years—both below 60%. People still have time to vaccinate.— Dr. Daniela Zavando, Regional Health Secretary
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why focus the campaign on those two specific age groups—the elderly and very young children?
Because they're the most vulnerable to severe respiratory illness, and they're the ones falling behind. When you lose protection in those populations, you see hospitalizations and deaths spike.
At 72.5 percent coverage, that sounds fairly strong. Why the urgency?
Because winter hasn't arrived yet. Once it does, people get sick, hospitals fill up, and vaccination rates plateau. You have a narrow window to reach people before the season hits hard. And those two groups—they need active outreach, not just availability.
What does "Team Cuidarnos" actually mean to someone living in Rancagua?
It's a permission structure and a call to action. It says: protect yourself and your family through simple things—wash hands, ventilate rooms, get vaccinated. It's not complicated. It's saying we're all in this together, and we all have a role.
The health service doubled resources. Does that suggest they're expecting a bad winter?
They're preparing for the normal winter surge, but yes, they're taking it seriously. Doubling resources, extending clinic hours, preparing 150 adult ICU beds—that's not casual. It's saying we expect volume and we want to be ready.
What happens if they don't hit 85 percent coverage?
The system still functions, but you see more preventable illness, more hospitalizations, more strain on staff. The 85 percent target exists because that's the threshold where you start breaking transmission chains. Below that, the virus spreads more freely.