site.btaBulgaria Makes Chickenpox Vaccine Mandatory from July 1

Vaccination against chickenpox (varicella) will become mandatory in Bulgaria from July 2026, according to the country's immunization ordinance published in the State Gazette in January. The vaccine will be provided free of charge.

A total of 14,570 cases of chickenpox have been registered in Bulgaria since the beginning of the year, compared with 14,594 cases reported during the same period in 2025, according to data from the National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases as of June 21, 2026.

WHO recommends introducing routine chickenpox vaccination where the disease is an important public health problem and where high vaccination coverage can be sustained.

Mandatory immunization against varicella will apply to children born after January 1, 2025, under a two-dose schedule. The first dose will be administered at 12-15 months of age, while the booster dose will be given at four years of age. Children who develop chickenpox after receiving the first dose and have medical documentation or laboratory confirmation of the disease will not be subject to the second dose.

Varicella is one of the most contagious diseases, infecting about 90% of people who come into contact with an infected person if they have not developed specific immunity, according to the online platform Plus Men, created by the Health Ministry to promote the benefits of vaccines. Children aged 5-9 are the most affected group. The varicella vaccine can also be administered after contact with an infected person, provided this is done within 72 hours of exposure.