Government approves €2.8 million for chickenpox vaccines for children and RSV vaccines for pregnant women

Bulgaria's Council of Ministers has approved €2,836,200 of additional spending in the Health Ministry's 2026 budget to buy vaccines against chickenpox for children and against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for pregnant women, the government press office said on Wednesday 28 October, as reported by bTV and 24 Chasa.

Of the total, €1,904,800 is for chickenpox vaccine. Immunisation against chickenpox is included as mandatory in Bulgaria's immunisation calendar and covers children aged 12 to 15 months. According to 24 Chasa, the vaccine became mandatory for children from 1 July this year. The government said chickenpox is one of the most contagious diseases spread by airborne droplets and has a significant health and social impact.

The remaining €931,400 is for vaccines against RSV, aimed at pregnant women between the 24th and 36th week of pregnancy. The aim is to protect babies in their first months of life, when the risk of severe infection is highest. RSV can cause anything from mild flu-like symptoms to severe illness and death, and babies under six months, especially those under two months, are the most vulnerable, the government said.

Both vaccines were proposed by the National Expert Council on Immunisation. The changes needed in Ordinance No. 15 on immunisation have already been made, and the supply contracts for this year have been signed. The money comes from the budget programme for prevention and surveillance of infectious diseases.

Separately, the first 150,000 doses of injectable seasonal flu vaccine have been delivered to Bulgaria, bTV reported.

For pharmaceutical distributors and vaccine makers, the decision confirms that the two new immunisations are now funded by the state in 2026. For employers, wider vaccination of children can mean fewer days off for parents during the winter season, although the effect will take time to show.