A National Vaccination Plan against Covid-19 has been adopted at a meeting of the Council of Ministers today. This was announced at a briefing by the Minister of Health Prof. Kostadin Angelov. In preparing the plan, the recommendations of the World Health Organization were used, in accordance to the characteristics of Bulgarian health care. It is also open for updating depending on the situation, Minister Angelov added.

Who will be vaccinated and when?

According to the plan, vaccines will first be given to medical staff - doctors, dentists, health care professionals, pharmacists and support staff, as well as police officers. About 243,600 people are in this category.

The second phase of vaccination will cover pedagogical specialists, staff of social institutions and users of their services, as well as staff of mink farms - about 112,080 people.

The third phase covers people involved in maintaining systems needed for functioning of basic public life, such as employees in water supply companies.

The fourth phase includes the elderly at the age of 65 and up and people with chronic diseases.

The fifth phase will cover vulnerable groups due to the high epidemiological risk of infection associated with their living conditions and lifestyle.

Regioning

For the purposes of vaccination, the country will be divided into 6 regions. Each of them has the respective Regional Health Inspectorate, which will perform the logistics.

RHI Vratsa is responsible for Region 1, RHI Veliko Tarnovo - for region 2, RHI Varna - for region 3, RHI Sofia - for region 4, RHI Plovdiv - for region 5, RHI Burgas is responsible for region 6.

Vaccination will be voluntary

Minister Angelov reiterated that vaccination would be voluntary after a clear wish on the part of the vaccinated person and their informed consent for the vaccine they have chosen.

Vaccination will take place with the permission of the European Medicines Agency. "We need to reach the level of 75% immunized people in order to protect society as a whole," Chief State Health Inspector Assoc. Prof. Angel Kunchev said.

Compiled by: Miglena Ivanova

English: Alexander Markov