Tunisia to launch seasonal flu vaccination campaign on October 27

Tunisia is set to launch its national seasonal influenza vaccination campaign on October 27. Approximately 280,000 doses have been allocated for the initiative. Vaccines will be accessible through private pharmacies, basic health centers, and public health establishments.

A notable feature of this year's campaign is a significant reduction in the cost of the vaccine. The price per dose is expected not to exceed 24 dinars, down from approximately 38 dinars during the previous campaign. This price decrease is attributed to the regulatory mechanism used by the Central Pharmacy of Tunisia, the sole entity authorized to negotiate directly with foreign laboratories and manage vaccine procurement.

Health officials have emphasized that vaccines distributed in both the public and private sectors maintain identical standards of quality and efficacy. The campaign follows a coordination meeting involving the Ministry of Health, the Central Pharmacy, and representatives from pharmacy unions and orders to finalize logistics and distribution across central and regional levels. The Ministry recommends vaccination particularly for vulnerable groups, including individuals aged 65 and older and those with chronic conditions such as cardiovascular diseases.