According to the Directorate-General for Health (DGS), “2.1 million Covid-19 vaccines were purchased (mainland Portugal and Autonomous Regions) and 2.5 million flu vaccines for mainland Portugal (2.1 million standard dose and 360 thousand high dose vaccines)”.

The DGS announced, without indicating the value of the investment, that “sufficient flu and Covid-19 vaccines were purchased for all eligible individuals who show an interest in being vaccinated”, in the health units of the National Health Service (SNS) and in pharmacies.

This year, the flu vaccination with a booster dose will be extended to people aged 85 or over, in addition to people living in nursing homes, similar institutions and the National Network of Integrated Continuing Care (RNCCI).

Speaking to the Lusa news agency on 10 September, the Director-General of Health, Rita Sá Machado, recalled that people aged over 84 will only be vaccinated “in a health centre”.

“What we are seeing is an attempt to minimise the number of people going to health centres. What does that mean? Someone aged 85 or over (…) has their routine appointments. We want to take advantage of this moment (…) to be the moment for vaccination”, she stated.

In the rules relating to the campaign, which define the eligible groups, the vaccines to be used, the vaccination schedules and the technical procedures associated with vaccination, the DGS indicates that the flu vaccination with a booster dose “will take place in health centres, allowing all its logistics to be streamlined”.

In the SNS health units, vaccination is recommended and free of charge for people aged 60 or over, professionals and users/residents of nursing homes, similar institutions and RNCCI and people with high-risk pathologies.

Vaccination in the SNS units is also recommended for pregnant women and professionals in health services (public and private) and other health care services, students on clinical placements, firefighters involved in transporting patients, caregivers to dependent people and pharmaceutical distribution professionals, homeless people and prison establishments.

In community pharmacies, vaccination is recommended for users aged between 60 and 84 and pharmacy health professionals.

The Government will spend 7.6 million euros on vaccination against Covid-19 and flu in pharmacies and wants to have more people vaccinated by the end of November than in 2023.

According to an ordinance published in the Official Gazette, pharmacies will receive three euros for each vaccine administered.

The ordinance provides for the allocation of a complementary amount of 0.11 euros, intended to compensate for the costs inherent in waste management, provided that a maximum rate of unusable vaccine doses (1.5%) is ensured, corresponding to that which is also ensured in the context of SNS entities.