North Macedonia vaccination program updates

In North Macedonia, the Ministry of Health has updated its approach to seasonal influenza and BCG vaccination programs following regional safety concerns.

Regarding the BCG vaccine, the Ministry has suspended the use of products from Bulgaria’s Bul Bio NCIPD as a precautionary measure. This decision follows reports in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina regarding potential links between the vaccine and cases of osteomyelitis in children. Health Minister Sasho Klevkovski noted that the specific batches used in North Macedonia from 2022 and 2023 have been exhausted, with no local adverse reactions documented. To ensure continuity, the Ministry has partnered with UNICEF to procure a one-year supply from a Japanese manufacturer. Officials stated that delaying newborn vaccinations will not cause long-term harm and urged parents to adhere to the immunization calendar.

For seasonal influenza, vaccinations are expected to begin in late October. While 56,000 doses have been secured due to global production delays, officials are working to acquire an additional 80,000 doses to support high-risk groups, including healthcare workers, pregnant women, the chronically ill, and individuals over 65.

Additionally, the Ministry is implementing new regulations to curb reported abuses of sick leave, reducing the period during which general practitioners can approve leave from seven to five days.