Bulgaria: Covid-19 Vaccine Priority Line Updated – Caretaker Health Minister

An order of caretaker Health Minister Stoycho Katsarov issued on Monday introduces changes to the current organization of mass vaccination against COVID-19 in Bulgaria. Mondays to Thursdays are now reserved for the inoculation of older persons and people with chronic health conditions (ischemic heart disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, cerebrovascular disease, chronic respiratory diseases and oncological diseases, or other health conditions by the doctor's decision). Everyone else can get a jab in the order of their online immunization registration on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, the Ministry's press service reported.

Everyone can get vaccinated free or charge either by their general practitioner or at the existing vaccination centres across Bulgaria.

Until now, any adult wishing to get inoculated could do so any day of the week (subject to vaccine availability) by their general practitioner, at a vaccination centre following an online registration, or at a medical health establishment offering the so-called "green lane" for vaccination without prior registration.

The Health Minister's order also changes the manner in which general practitioners (GPs) obtain doses of COVID-19 vaccines
for their patients. In the next two months, GPs will be receiving vaccines at logistics stations, instead of at the corresponding regional health inspectorate.

Starting Tuesday, the inspectorates across Bulgaria have to determine the logistics stations on the territory of each municipality and, when necessary, in remote settlements. The inspectorates are obliged to deliver to these stations the number of vaccine doses requested by the GPs.

General practitioners have to provide the inspectorates with lists of...