The Cabinet allocated €1.9 million for the chickenpox vaccine

The Council of Ministers approved funding for the Ministry of Health for 2026 in the total amount of €1,904,800 for the purchase of a chickenpox vaccine, which will be included as a mandatory immunization for children aged 12–15 months in the Immunization Calendar of the Republic of Bulgaria. This was announced by the government press service.

Additional funding of €931,400 was also approved for the purchase of a vaccine against infections caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The immunization will be targeted at pregnant women between the 24th and 36th gestational week.

The proposals for including new vaccines in the national immunization policy were made by the National Expert Council on Immunizations, following the necessary regulatory changes already made to Ordinance No. 15 on Immunizations in the Republic of Bulgaria.

Chickenpox is one of the most contagious airborne infectious diseases, with wide global distribution and significant health and social impact. In the absence of effective prevention, the disease is difficult to control.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of respiratory infections, which can range from mild flu-like symptoms to severe illness and death in infants under six months of age. Babies under two months of age are the most affected.

Vaccinating pregnant women against RSV is essential for protecting both expectant mothers and their newborns. Immunization provides passive protection for infants during the first months of life, when the risk of severe infection is highest.