Bulgaria faces influenza vaccine shortage as flu season begins

Bulgaria is facing a significant shortage of influenza vaccines as the flu season begins. The Ministry of Health and the Bulgarian Pharmaceutical Union confirmed that one of the two approved injectable vaccines will not be available in pharmacies due to manufacturer supply issues. Consequently, available injectable doses will be prioritized for national immunization programs targeting children and adults over 65.

General practitioners are facing a moral dilemma regarding who to prioritize for vaccination. Dr. Gergana Nikolova, Vice President of the National Association of General Practitioners, noted that the national program for children covers only about 17% of the eligible age group. While some nasal vaccines for children have arrived, they are also difficult to find in many pharmacies.

Due to the scarcity, some Bulgarian citizens are traveling to neighboring Greece to purchase vaccines. Health officials attribute the delays to the global production process, noting that the late determination of vaccine strains this year impacted delivery schedules. For the 2026/2027 season, Bulgaria expects a total of 770,000 doses.