Bulgaria shortens Covid-19 booster dose interval to 3 months after second dose

A booster dose of vaccine against Covid-19 can be administered as soon as three months after the second dose of the vaccination, Bulgaria’s Chief State Health Inspector, associate professor angel Kunchev said at a briefing outside the ministry of health on December 30.

"The main issue was to decide to shorten the recommended period for receiving the booster dose from 6 to 3 months. Studies show that this period of 3 months after the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine provides a sufficient immune response," said the health inspector.

Only with the signle-dose vaccine of "Jansen" the period is two months, as these are the recommendations of the experts.

The term of receiving free-of-charge influenza vaccines for senior citizens will be extended until the end of January, Kunchev said. General practitioners have asked for this change, as there is great interest in both the Covid vaccine and the flu vaccine. However, a 14-day spacing is needed between the Covid-19 vaccine and the flu shot.

The decisions were made in response to the Omicron variant and its rapid spread.

The rotavirus vaccination programme will also be extended. The guidelines will be uploaded on the website of the Ministry of Health.

Nowhere in the world is there a recommendation for booster doses in children, said Kunchev.

At a briefing after the meeting of the Council of Ministers, the Minister of Health Asena Serbezova stressed the need for vaccination, especially for the elderly. It is expected that in the early days of the newyear it will become clear whether there are positive tests for Omicron in Bulgaria.