Bulgaria’s Ministry of Health recommends second booster and mRNA vaccine against COVID-19 in persons 18 years of age and older.

The Bulgarian Ministry of Health has approved the recommendations of the Expert Council for oversight of Immunoprophylaxis regarding the administration of a fourth dose (second booster) and mRNA vaccine against COVID-19 to all persons 18 years of age and older who wish to receive it.

The second booster vaccine against COVID-19 can be administered at vaccination centres of the Regional Health Inspectorates, general practitioners' offices, and in inpatient and outpatient health care facilities.

Starting Monday, June 27, the National Immunization Registry - part of the National Health Information System - will allow entry of an administered second booster mRNA vaccine, and citizens will receive a certificate of vaccination.

"Information Services” is already working on adapting the functionalities of the system.

The certificate will be identical to the one for the first booster dose, with the exception of the sequence number of the administered vaccine - for the second booster vaccine the certificate will indicate 4/4. This certificate, like the certificate for the first booster vaccine, will be indefinite insofar as the current European Regulation does not provide otherwise.

The second booster dose can be administered at least 4 months after the first booster in persons whose completed vaccination course is with a two-dose vaccine, the Ministry of Health said.

The second booster dose of mRNA vaccine is highly recommended for the following categories of persons at the age of 18 years and older:

• people who are immunocompromised;
• Transplant patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy;
• Patients on chronic dialysis;
• Patients with oncohematological diseases;
• Residents and staff in nursing facilities providing long-term care for the elderly;
• Medical professionals involved in the treatment of patients with COVID-19;
• Seniors 65 years of age and older

The opinion of the Council is in line with the recommendation of the European Medicines Agency and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control to ensure that persons at risk can receive a fourth dose (second booster) of the mRNA vaccine against COVID-19.