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Infarmed urges pharmacies to prioritise campaign groups as flu vaccine shortage hits Portugal's prescription supply

🇵🇹 INFARMED · Fri 30 Oct 2026

Portugal's medicines authority says limited stock for prescription dispensing in community pharmacies reflects a European shortage, and recommends that valid prescriptions be accepted.

Infarmed, Portugal's medicines regulator, has issued guidance on prescribing and dispensing influenza vaccines in community pharmacies, citing a shortage of flu vaccines across Europe. In Portugal, the shortage has limited the availability of vaccines that pharmacies dispense on medical prescription to people outside the seasonal vaccination campaign.

The autumn-winter 2026-2027 seasonal campaign against influenza and COVID-19 is under way. For influenza it covers a broad population, including children aged 6 months to 4 years, pregnant women, eligible people aged 18 to 59 with risk conditions, and everyone aged 60 or over, among others. Infarmed stresses that the limited pharmacy supply does not reduce doses for people eligible under the campaign, in line with Norma n.º 006/2026 from the Directorate-General of Health (DGS).

Infarmed makes three recommendations. First, doses available for pharmacy dispensing on prescription should not be used for people covered by the ongoing campaign. Second, for people outside the campaign, prescribers should use the international non-proprietary name: influenza vaccine, suspension for injection in a pre-filled syringe.

Third, prescriptions issued exclusively for 2026/2027 flu vaccines since 1 July 2026 remain valid until 31 December. To spare patients a return visit to their doctor, Infarmed says valid prescriptions should be accepted and the vaccine available at the time dispensed, identified by CNPEM 50215086. The authority says it will keep monitoring the situation and update the information as needed.

What it means for your team

  • Pharmacy and dispensing teams should reserve prescription-channel stock for people outside the seasonal campaign, as Infarmed recommends.
  • Prescribers should use the INN-based wording (influenza vaccine, suspension for injection in pre-filled syringe) rather than a product name for non-campaign patients.
  • Valid prescriptions issued since 1 July 2026 should be honoured until 31 December, with dispensing against CNPEM 50215086, avoiding repeat consultations.
  • Supply and market-access teams should note that the shortage is described as European-wide and that Infarmed will update its guidance when warranted.

Official source: INFARMED ↗

Article written by VigiEye from the official source (INFARMED). AI-assisted; check the source before acting.

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