Several health centres in Serbia have run out of adult flu vaccines just weeks after the start of the 2026/2027 immunisation campaign, raising questions about the planning and distribution of supplies for a seasonal illness whose annual return is well established.
The vaccination campaign officially began on 14 October, with two vaccines available: TorVaxFlu, produced by Serbia’s Torlak Institute for adults aged 18 and over, and Vaxigrip, produced by Sanofi, for children and adolescents as well as other eligible age groups. However, shortages have been reported in several locations, particularly affecting adult doses, while some health centres have continued to report availability of vaccines for children.
According to data from the Institute of Public Health of Serbia “Dr Milan Jovanović Batut”, by 30 October, 125,070 adult doses had been administered out of 133,229 distributed, representing 93.9% of the available supply. By comparison, 2,627 of the 5,480 distributed Vaxigrip doses intended for children and adolescents had been used. The figures suggest particularly rapid uptake of the adult vaccine. Doctors interviewed by local media have also reported receiving fewer doses than in previous years, with some health centres having exhausted their supplies shortly after distribution.
Batut has confirmed that 315,000 doses were planned and contracted for the 2026/2027 season, including 288,000 TorVaxFlu doses and 27,000 Vaxigrip doses.
Torlak has requested a distribution plan for an additional 50,013 adult vaccine doses that are ready for delivery, while a further 20,000 Vaxigrip doses are also expected. According to information provided by Batut, additional deliveries are scheduled by 15 November and 30 November. Meanwhile, availability varies between locations: for example, the Novi Sad Health Centre announced that it had received sufficient quantities for its clinics.
The situation has raised questions about supply planning, given that seasonal influenza is a recurring public health challenge whose circulation generally increases during the colder months. Unlike the unexpected emergence of COVID-19, the timing of the flu season is broadly predictable, allowing health authorities to plan annual vaccination campaigns in advance. Although experts are advising against panic, the rapid depletion of stocks in some locations has left people who wish to protect themselves waiting for new deliveries.
Vaccination is particularly recommended for people over 65, pregnant women, individuals with chronic conditions and others at increased risk of complications. Epidemiologist Zoran Radovanović has stressed that the vaccine does not provide complete protection against infection, but reduces the likelihood of severe illness and hospitalisation. As immunity takes approximately two to three weeks to develop, timely access to vaccination remains important ahead of the expected seasonal rise in flu cases.
