Bulgaria will get 770,000 doses of flu vaccine for the 2026/2027 season, the health ministry told BTA, citing figures from the Bulgarian Drug Agency. For the first time, children will be vaccinated free of charge.

Free child vaccination falls under the national flu vaccination programme for children, adopted in May and running from 2026 to 2030. Children aged 6 months to 7 years qualify, and those with chronic illness can get the shot up to age 17.

The programme sets aside 135,138 doses a year, with a goal of vaccinating up to 17% of children aged 6 months to 7 years, plus 10,000 children with chronic conditions.

So far the National Health Insurance Fund has ordered fewer doses than that. Wholesalers will supply 50,790 injectable vaccines and 47,504 nasal ones, which falls short of what the 2026 programme calls for, the ministry says.

Children can only be vaccinated with a parent's consent. There is no fixed rule on which children should get the shot — the family doctor decides based on the child's health and needs.

For people aged 65 and over, 490,000 doses have been ordered, with a target of vaccinating up to 35% of them. For those aged 75 and over, 50,000 doses with a higher antigen content are planned.

More than 180,000 flu vaccines will go on sale on the open market.