Version:

02-04-2014 01-01-2020: Change to Pneumo primary schedule (no dose at 3 month of age) and Pertussis antigen added at the age of 12 04-11-2021: Updated recommendations for COVID-19 Vaccine 01-01-2024: 2024 vaccination calendar 25-06-2025: Version 2025 05-02-2026: Immunization schedule for 2026

Footnotes:

1. Priority groups for vaccination are: persons aged 60+; people with chronic diseases; immunocompromised persons (including children over 6 months); pregnant women; medical staff; users and staff of social institutions. More information: https://plusmen.bg/bg/optional/covid-19
2. Immunization of pregnant women between 24 and 36 weeks of gestation. Vaccine and the administration are free of charge for pregnant women and funded by the National Health system.
3. Administration after 48 hours from birth.
4. Only after negative Montoux test
5. Active immunization of children aged 6 to 24 weeks. The vaccination course consists of two doses, with an interval of at least 4 weeks between doses. Vaccine and immunization are covered by National Program for the Prevention of Rotavirus Gastroenteritis
6. Routine vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, Haemophilus influenzae type B infections, and viral hepatitis type B vaccination begins at 6 weeks of age. Second and third doses are given at week 10 and week 14. For children born to mothers vaccinated during pregnancy against pertussis, mandatory immunization against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, Haemophilus influenzae type B infections, and viral hepatitis type B is carried out from two months of age. Subsequent immunizations are administered no earlier than 4 weeks after the previous dose, at three and four months of age, respectively. For children born to mothers vaccinated during pregnancy against pertussis, mandatory immunization against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, Haemophilus influenzae type B infections, and viral hepatitis type B is carried out from two months of age. Subsequent immunizations are administered no earlier than 4 weeks after the previous dose, at three and four months of age, respectively.
7. Not earlier than 12 months after the 3rd dose
8. Immunization against pertussis is given to pregnant women between the 27th and 36th weeks of pregnancy. A booster of TDaP reduced-antigen vaccine and the administration are free of charge for pregnant women and funded by the National Health system.
9. During the first 24 hours after birth with a monovalent hepatitis B vaccine, regardless of the type of vaccine used to continue the immunization schedule.
10. When using a monovalent vaccine, doses are administered at 1 and 6 months
11. When administering a combination vaccine containing a hepatitis B vaccine, doses are given at 2, 3 and 4 months of age.
12. Routine vaccination begins at 6 weeks of age. Second dose is given at 14 weeks of age. For children born to mothers vaccinated against pertussis during pregnancy, mandatory immunization against pneumococcal infections is carried out from two months of age. Subsequent immunization is administered no earlier than 8 weeks after the first dose, respectively from four months of age.
13. Not earlier than 6 months after the previous dose.
14. Varicella vaccine will be in place as mandatory vaccination since 1st July 2026. 2 doses scheme is recommended: 1 st dose at age 12-15 months and 2nd at 4 years of age.
15. Specific groups according to a National Programme: females 10-14 years, males 10-13 years; 2 doses scheme. Second dose: Not earlier than 6 months after the previous dose
16. Specific groups according to a National Programme: females 15-18 years; 3 doses vaccination scheme. Second dose: 1 to 6 months after the previous dose; Third dose: 3 to 6 months after the previous dose
17. Inactivated vaccines are recommended for children over 6 months of age. LAIV is recommended for children over 24 months of age. Vaccines are not funded but vaccine administration is funded by the national health insurance.
18. Inactivated vaccines are recommended for all people over 18 years of age. Vaccines are not funded but vaccine administration is funded by the national health insurance only for insured

More information available at:
https://www.mh.government.bg/bg/informaciya-za-grazhdani/imunizacii/ https://plusmen.bg/


HISTORIC CHANGES:
Measles
1969: Measles vaccine introduced in Bulgaria
1969-1971: Catch-up campaigns, targeting all children from 1 to 8 years of age without history of measles infection
1972: Measles immunization became universal in Bulgaria
1972-1982: Routine immunization with one dose of measles vaccine at 10 months of age or slightly older
1976 & 1981: Follow-up measles immunization campaigns for 2-14 year old children and 2-6 year old children regardless of their vaccination status
1983: Universal measles immunization with two doses of measles vaccine
1983-1985: Routine immunization with two doses of measles vaccine:
1st dose at 12 months of age
2nd dose at 4 years of age
1986-1992: Routine immunization with two doses of measles vaccine:
1st dose at 12 months of age
2nd dose at 24 months of age
1992: Follow-up measles immunization campaign for 12-14 year old children regardless of their vaccination status
1993: Introduction of combined measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine into the national vaccination schedule: 1st dose given at 13 months of age
1993-2000: Routine immunization with two doses
1st dose (MMR) at 13 months of age
2nd dose (monovalent measles vaccine) at 12 years of age
2000-2001: Introduction of MMR vaccine into national vaccination schedule for the second dose at 12 years of age.
Since 2001: Routine two dose immunization with MMR vaccine
1st dose MMR at 13 months of age
2nd dose MMR at 12 years of age

Rubella:
1988: Monovalent Rubella vaccine introduced in Bulgaria. Selective vaccination program offered the vaccine to girls ages 16 to 18 years in selected districts
1989-1991: Routine vaccination of 13-15 year old girls with one dose of monovalent Rubella vaccine
1992-2000: Routine vaccination of 12 year old girls with monovalent Rubella vaccine
1993: Combined measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine introduced in Bulgaria for the first dose at 13 months of age to girls and boys
1993-2000: Routine immunization with two doses
1st dose (MMR) at 13 months of age
2nd dose (monovalent rubella vaccine) for girls at 12 years of age
Since 2001: Routine two dose immunization with MMR vaccine
1st dose MMR at 13 months of age
2nd dose MMR at 12 years of age

Mumps:
1972: Monovalent Mumps vaccine introduced in Bulgaria
1972-1975: Gradual coverage with one dose monovalent Mumps vaccine of all children ages 1 – 12 years without history of mumps infection
1976-1981: Routine one dose immunization with monovalent Mumps vaccine for all children at 12 months of age
1981: Mumps immunization campaign with monovalent Mumps vaccine, targeting children ages 4-12 year
1982-1986: Mumps immunization temporarily interrupted
1986-1987: Mumps immunization catch-up campaign with monovalent Mumps vaccine targeting all children up to 5 years of age without mumps history
1987-1992: Routine one dose immunization with monovalent Mumps vaccine for all children at =14 months of age
1993: Introduction of combined measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine into the national vaccination schedule: 1st dose at 13 months of age
1993-2000: One dose of MMR vaccine at 13 months of age
Since 2001: Routine two dose immunization with MMR vaccine:
1st dose MMR at 13 months of age
2nd dose MMR at 12 years of age

Other:
2010: Routine immunization with four doses DTaPIPVHib vaccine:
1st dose DTaPIPVHib at 2 months of age
2nd dose DTaPIPVHib at 3 months of age
3rd dose DTaPIPVHib at 4 months of age
4th dose DTaPIPVHib at 16 months of age (not earlier than 1 year after receiving the 3rd dose)

One dose DTaPIPV at 6 years of age

One dose of Tdap at 12 years of age

Routine immunization with three or four doses Pneumococcal conjugated vaccine
1st dose Pneumococcal conjugated vaccine at 2 months of age
2nd dose Pneumococcal conjugated vaccine at 3 months of age for children born until 31.12.2019
3rd dose Pneumococcal conjugated vaccine at 4 months of age
4th dose Pneumococcal conjugated vaccine at 12 months of age (Not earlier than 6 months after the 3rd dose or after 2nd dose for those born from 01.01.2020)

National Program for Primary Prevention of Cervical Cancer 2021-2024
Free vaccination against human papillomaviruses (HPV) is provided in girls aged 10-13 years through the National Program for Primary Prevention of Cervical Cancer 2021-2024. But vaccine for girls available upon parents request to their GP since 2012.

Rotavirus vaccine: Active immunization of children aged 6 to 24 weeks. The vaccination course consists of two doses, with an interval of at least 4 weeks between doses. Vaccine and immunization are covered by National Program for the Prevention of Rotavirus Gastroenteritis

RSV immunization of pregnant women between 24 and 36 weeks of gestation. Vaccine and the administration are free of charge for pregnant women and funded by the National Health system.


Date of last update: 6 February 2026