Health ministry approves recommendations for booster shot of adapted COVID-19 vaccines

The Health Ministry has approved the recommendations of the Expert Council on Immunoprophylaxis Supervision about the application of a booster shot of adapted mRNA vaccines against COVID-19, the Ministry said in a press release Tuesday. The adapted vaccines target the Omicron variant and its subvariants. 

The Health Ministry recommends a booster of the adapted vaccines to citizens who have not received a booster jab in the last six months as well as to those with two vaccine doses who have recovered from COVID-19 prior to May 2022.

The adapted mRNA vaccines are recommended to everyone aged 12 or over who have received two vaccine doses or a booster shot more than three months ago.

A booster is highly recommended to people with compromised immune systems, transplanted patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, patients on chronic dialysis, patients with onco-hematological diseases, visitors to and workers at social establishments providing long-term care to older persons, medical professionals treating COVID-19 patients, and people aged 65 or over.

Administered as booster jabs are only the adapted mRNA vaccines Comirnaty Original/Omicron BA.1, Spikevax Bivalent Original/Omicron BA.1, and Comirnaty Original/Omicron BA.4-5. Bulgaria already has quantities available of all three, and as of October 3 doses of Comirnaty Original/Omicron BA.4-5 will be provided to general practitioners, vaccination points in hospitals, and regional health inspectorates.