First 30,000 seasonal flu vaccines arrive in North Macedonia

The first shipment of 30,000 seasonal influenza vaccines has arrived in North Macedonia, the Ministry of Health announced, and vaccinations are expected to begin in the period from October 16 to October 25, Health Minister Sasho Klekovski said.

Klekovski said a second consignment of an additional 26,000 doses is due to arrive by November 15. The ministry is coordinating logistics with the Centers for Public Health and is working to secure a total supply of 80,000 vaccines.

Priority and distribution

"It was important for us to receive the first 30,000 vaccines so that we could start immediately with the highest-risk groups. On November 15 we will have the next 26,000, and in the meantime we will work to secure the remainder up to 80,000 vaccines," Klekovski said.

With the initial doses in the country, vaccination will be prioritised for people in high-risk groups. Eligibility and ordering for those groups will be determined according to diagnosis and the criteria applied at the local Centers for Public Health.

Klekovski acknowledged that procurement had been delayed but stressed that the immunisation campaign will begin on time. He said the ministry expects the first doses to arrive within ten days and is finalising the distribution plan with regional health centres.

The ministry urged those in priority groups to follow instructions from public-health centres on where and when to be vaccinated once the campaign opens.

Photo: press material from the event