Influenza vaccination coverage rate (VCR) is very low in Romania. The VCR for people of 65 years and over in the 2021–2022 season was 21.38%, substantially lower than the WHO set target of 75% and below EU average rates (43.9% for EU22 in 2020). The VCR among the general population was even lower, at 8% (decreasing from 13% in the previous season). To address and increase these low rates, a measure that the Ministry of Health recently considered was widening the group of vaccinators.
A pilot started in October 2022 that allows people to get vaccinated against seasonal influenza in authorized pharmacies. Vaccinations are administered following a general health status evaluation of the patient, who is required to complete a questionnaire before the vaccine can be safely provided. For children’s vaccination in pharmacies, a medical prescription is needed. Vaccinated patients are required to visit the family doctor for monitoring their post vaccination status.
At the time of writing (end of July 2023), there is no publicly available evaluation of this pilot; while there is no evidence available on a causal affect, for the 2022–23 season, the VCR for people of 65 years and over increased to 23%, and among the general population remained at 8%.
A comprehensive national vaccination strategy for 2023–2030 is currently under public debate.
More information (in Romanian):
Ministerul Sănătății [Ministry of Health] (2022), Ordin nr. 3.262 din 19 octombrie 2022 pentru aprobarea organizării și funcționării unui program-pilot de vaccinare a populației împotriva gripei sezoniere la nivelul farmaciilor comunitare [Ministry of Health Order no. 3262/2022 on the approval of organization and functioning of a pilot programme for vaccination against seasonal influenza in community pharmacies], Monitorul Oficial nr. 1031 din 24 octombrie 2022 [Official Gazette no. 1031 from 24 October 2022], https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/DetaliiDocument/260720