More vaccines at a lower price: Lithuania is already prepared for the new flu season
The National Health Insurance Fund has signed a contract for the purchase of flu vaccines for the 2026/2027 season. This year, 250,000 doses were purchased for nearly EUR 744,000 from the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund – which is 12% more doses than in the previous flu season, and vaccines were acquired at a lower price. Consistent and early preparation for the flu season not only ensures that there are enough reimbursable vaccines for the population but also allows for the rational use of the fund resources.
“Preparation for the flu season begins well in advance, already in winter. This practice allows manufacturers to plan production more smoothly, and allows countries to secure the necessary number of vaccines and achieve more favourable purchase conditions. This year, the price per dose of purchased vaccines has decreased by almost 14% compared to last year’s purchase. This means that more people can be vaccinated against the flu while using the fund’s resources more efficiently,” says Agnė Grušeckienė, advisor at the Centrally Procured Pharmaceuticals Division of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
As outlined in the National Immunoprophylaxis Program, a trivalent flu vaccine has been purchased for the new season. Each year, it is newly manufactured according to the antigenic composition recommended by the World Health Organization, taking into account predicted virus strains. The efficacy and safety of the vaccine are confirmed during vaccine registration procedures.
It is planned that flu vaccines will reach healthcare institutions in autumn, before the active flu season begins. As in previous years, the quantity of vaccines delivered to each institution will correspond to the demand they submitted in advance. This procedure ensures smooth distribution of vaccines and their availability to patients across Lithuania.
A. Grušeckienė emphasizes that annual vaccination is important not only for individual protection but also for public health. In Lithuania, the majority of reported infectious diseases are airborne infections, with seasonal flu and acute upper respiratory tract infections being the most common. Flu vaccination remains one of the most effective measures to reduce the number of severe cases, complications, and hospitalizations.
Vaccination is recommended every year before the start of the flu season, especially for people in risk groups. Using funds from the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund, the seasonal flu vaccine is provided free of charge to residents in risk groups: people aged 65 and older, children aged 2–7 years, pregnant women, residents of social care and nursing facilities, people with chronic illnesses, healthcare workers, and students in health sciences programs whose practical training takes place in healthcare institutions.
The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) reminds residents that for vaccines reimbursed from the fund, they should contact their registered healthcare institution.
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Last updated: 13-04-2026
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