Vaccination with the new Covid-19 vaccines has started in Bulgaria

The campaign for immunization against COVID-19 for the autumn-winter season 2024/2025 has started, the Ministry of Health said on September 11.

The country has already received 84,960 doses and mRNA vaccines against the new JN.1 variant of SARS-CoV-2 from the manufacturer Pfizer". They have already been provided to the regional health inspectorates to organise the immunisation process.

The administration of the new vaccines will be free of charge and starts from today in the offices of the Regional Health Inspectorates and general practitioners throughout the country. If necessary, arrangements will be made to carry out immunisation in other health care facilities, and if there are people willing to be immunised locally, mobile teams may be formed for people with reduced mobility, people from remote locations, etc.

Of the quantities delivered, 80,640 doses are intended for immunisation of persons aged 12 years and over, and the remaining nearly 4,000 doses are for children aged 6 months to 11 years.

The SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 vaccine can be administered on its own, regardless of previous illness and recovery and previous vaccinations. It is administered in a single dose, with the exception of children under the age of 5, who if not previously immunised or vaccinated, are immunised with three doses.

The Minister of Health has approved the recommendations of the National Expert Council on Immunisation for vaccination against COVID-19 in the upcoming autumn-winter season. They identify as priority groups:

• Persons aged 60 years and older;
• Persons with chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, etc.), regardless of age;
• Immunocompromised persons (e.g., persons with HIV, transplant recipients, etc.), including immunocompromised children 6 months and older;
• Pregnant women;
• Medical personnel;
• People and staff from social services institutions.

For persons in these groups, the National Expert Panel also recommends the administration of seasonal influenza vaccine. Influenza vaccine can be given at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine, with the two vaccines injected at different sites. It is also possible to administer the vaccines separately, in two separate visits to the doctor, in which case there is no need to follow a specific sequence or fixed interval between the two vaccines.

Any other person wishing to be vaccinated who does not fall into the groups mentioned above may also receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Information on the locations of the vaccination points can be found on the specialised website of the Ministry of Health for immunisations in Bulgaria - Plus Me.