BCG vaccination of newborns remains suspended, seasonal flu campaign continues
While authorities investigate reports tied to Bulgarian batches and negotiate Japanese supply, the seasonal flu campaign in Skopje and nationwide proceeds.
The seasonal influenza vaccination campaign is proceeding without interruption while the BCG (tuberculosis) immunisation of newborns remains suspended pending a new shipment of vaccine from Japan.
So far 1,722 people from priority groups have received the seasonal flu vaccine at 31 vaccination points around the country. Five of those points are located in Skopje: the Idadija, Bitpazar and Gjorche Petrov polyclinics, the Center for Public Health — Skopje and the Institute of Public Health.
The free seasonal flu vaccine is offered to people over 65, those with chronic illnesses, health-care workers, pregnant women and children aged six months to five years.
Authorities investigate reported reactions, production firm denies quality problems
The Ministry of Health halted the BCG vaccination with batches supplied by the Bulgarian producer Bul Bio after concerns about vaccine quality. In cooperation with UNICEF, authorities negotiated for Japanese BCG doses; Minister Sasho Klekovski expects vaccinations of newborns with BCG to resume in about 10 days. Health officials say the delay will not harm the infants.
Health agencies are analysing whether the adverse reactions reported by Croatian authorities were caused by the Bulgarian vaccine or by another factor. Croatian health services initially received four reports of possible bone inflammations in small children.
Bul Bio, the Bulgarian manufacturer, said that in two children a dose ten times higher than prescribed may have been administered, and the company rejects allegations of quality defects in the vaccine.
Photo: press material from the event
