The National Association of Pharmacies (ANF) admitted this Friday, December 5th, difficulties in vaccinating people who are not part of the eligible groups against the flu, taking into account the lack of vaccines in laboratories for the so-called private contingent.
“There are constraints in purchasing vaccines from distributors for people who wish to be vaccinated, with a medical prescription, outside the groups entitled to free vaccination”, the ANF told the Lusa agency.
The association led by Ema Paulino also highlighted that there is no shortage of vaccines in pharmacies for people who are part of the eligible groups and who can be vaccinated as part of the seasonal campaign of the National Health Service (SNS).
“So far, the information we have indicates that the laboratories have already confirmed that they no longer have vaccines intended for the private contingent”, said the ANF.
According to the latest data from the Directorate-General for Health, which set the objective of vaccinating 2.5 million people against the flu, around 2.3 million vaccines have already been administered since September, when the current autumn-winter seasonal campaign began.
Vaccination coverage of the population over 60 years of age is 60.7%, being higher in elderly people aged 85 or over (83.1%).
This week, the director-general of Health, Rita Sá Machado, expressed satisfaction with the Portuguese response to the authorities’ call for vaccination against the flu and with the increase in adherence among health professionals.
The seasonal autumn-winter 2025-2026 vaccination campaign runs until April 30, 2026 in NHS health units and 2,500 community pharmacies.