COVID-19 vaccination in Bulgaria

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The COVID-19 vaccination in Bulgaria is an immunization campaign currently taking place against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that is the cause of the COVID-19 disease. It began on 27 December 2020, in line with most other countries in the EU, and is in response to the ongoing pandemic in Bulgaria.

Background[]

After being one of the first countries in Europe to enter a lockdown, which came into effect on 13 March 2020, Bulgaria had mostly cluster-based transmission and a relatively low rate of infection compared to many other sovereign states on the continent up until mid June 2020 (when the vast majority of restrictions were lifted),^[2] managing to a large extent to be spared from a first wave,^[3] but was heavily hit during the autumn months, with the health system coming under severe strain,^[4] reaching a state of near collapse,^[5] resulting in a very high death toll per capita, especially for the month of November^[6] and early December.^[7] The authorities' handling of the pandemic has been criticized for insufficient levels of testing for the virus,^[7][8] the nature of the policies in relation to the quarantining of foreign arrivals and the lax enforcement,^[9][10] especially outside the capital city,^[11] an absence of an adequate exit strategy after the first lockdown,^[10][12] contributing to rather loose general measures against the spread of the virus during the summer of 2020,^[13][14] poor preparedness of the country's health system for the second wave of the pandemic,^[15] contradictory and inconsistent messaging,^[8][16] downplaying the gravity of the epidemiological situation^[17][18] as well as not following some of the recommendations of health experts^[4][12][18] due to concerns that the imposition of tight measures, purportedly not resonating with the wishes of most of the population,^[19] could pile on public pressure on the government,^[8] which faced political protests from July 2020 to April 2021. Medical professionals and politicians have expressed the view that the second partial lockdown^[20] that entered into force just before midnight of 28 November 2020 should have come earlier,^[21][22] at least three to four weeks before it was imposed^[7] and with stricter restrictions.^[7][23] Infection rates soared during March 2021, reaching the autumn levels, which prompted the government to impose a third lockdown from 22 to 31 March,^[24] though this once again garnered criticism for being a reactive measure that was long overdue and followed the almost complete reopening of the economy in the previous weeks,^[25][26] with medical professionals expressing concerns that its length was insufficient.^[27] Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has been accused of populism,^[28] with some analysts drawing comparisons with Donald Trump's approach to the pandemic,^[29] by prioritizing the interests of lobbies in the entertainment business and hospitality industries over those of health care establishments^[30] as well as allowing political considerations relating to the spring elections to influence the nature of the policy decisions.^[31] Some of the lockdown-related measures implemented during the spring of 2020, such as the closures of public parks,^[32] have been subject to criticism due to being regarded as overly harsh in terms of the fines levied and not being justifiable on epidemiological grounds,^[33] as well as reflective of what some sources have denounced as a panic-inducing general approach of the authorities in the early stages of the pandemic.^[34] The caretaker government's policies in relation to the pandemic have attracted criticism for being plagued by many of the same shortcomings as the ones implemented by Borisov's administration.^[35][36] Molecular biologist Georgi Marinov from Stanford University has expressed a belief that since May 2020 the governing bodies in Bulgaria have essentially abdicated from controlling the pandemic, also cautioning that while vaccination is quite important, it should not be an excuse for the premature abolishment of non-pharmaceutical interventions.^[37]

Mathematician Lachezar Tomov has pointed out that the outcome in Bulgaria may have been worse if the levels of travel within the country and the inter-connectedness of its regions were comparable to those of Western European countries such as the United Kingdom.^[3][38]

According to the COVID-19 Stringency Index, the country reached a peak of 73.15 (out of 100) during the first lockdown, with the second one being the least strict (having an apogee of 57.41) while the third one saw 61.11 as the highest value.^[39]

The Mall in January 2021, during the second partial lockdown in Bulgaria.

The Lowy Institute ranked Bulgaria 67th out of 98 countries in terms of its performance in tackling COVID-19, awarding it a score of 37.4 (the maximum being 100) on 9 January 2021.^[40] On 13 March 2021, in a second Lowy Institute assessment, Bulgaria had retained the 67th spot (this time out of 102 countries), accumulating 38.2 points.^[40]

In the early months of the pandemic, there was speculation that the BCG vaccine,^[41][42] of which the country is a major producer and which has been part of the mandatory vaccination package for newborns in Bulgaria since 1951,^[41] offers some degree of protection against COVID-19,^[42] with studies in the Netherlands suggesting that it serves as a powerful immune stimulator.^[43] However, this has not been corroborated by most scientific sources^[44] and the WHO maintains that there is so far a lack of evidence that the vaccine demonstrates effectiveness against COVID-19.^[45]

Bulgaria had been one of the countries in Europe the most strongly affected by the 1918 influenza pandemic,^[7] losing approximately 2% of its then population to the virus.^[46]

A Bulgarian official printout given to a person who has received an Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine.

Vaccines[]

Map of Bulgaria showing the vaccination rate as a percentage of each province's population as of 9 April 2021.

Pre-orders of vaccines and procedural matters[]

European Union vaccine negotiations[]

Bulgaria eventually agreed to purchase all seven vaccines included in the European portfolio - Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, Oxford–AstraZeneca, Sanofi, CureVac, Novavax, and Janssen,^[47] even though it had some reservations regarding its participation in the contract with Janssen Pharmaceutica.^[48] On 14 October Bulgaria explicitly refused to pre-order the latter's vaccine candidate as part of the EU-wide deal,^[49] but reversed course in November and ratified a separate agreement for 2 million doses in December, aided by Sweden's cooperation,^[49] with the change of heart partly attributed to concerns pertaining to the progress made by Oxford-AstraZeneca at the time.^[49] Some Bulgarian experts reportedly considered the European vaccine portfolio to be overly diverse.^[49][50] After major delays due to trial issues of Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline's vaccine candidate, for 2021 the country is mostly reliant on the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, expecting to receive enough doses for vaccinating 2.5 million citizens.^[51] After at first ordering 1 million doses from Pfizer-BioNTech, on 13 January 2021 when the European Commission announced that it had concluded an agreement for extra 300 million doses with this vaccine producer, Bulgaria requested additional 2.9 million Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines.^[52] In total, the amount of vaccine pre-ordered or set to be ordered by the country is expected to be equivalent to 18 million doses, able to cover 9 million citizens.^[53][54] In August 2021, it was revealed that Bulgaria had pre-ordered a new type of attenuated vaccine, developed in Austria.^[55]

Vaccine availability issues and further deals[]

On 25 February 2021, Angelov publicly reproached AstraZeneca after it became clear that the pharmaceutical company will be able to provide 40% of the promised vaccines by August. Bulgaria had also offered to assist with the delivery of the next batch of vaccines by sending its own airplane, but this suggestion had not been accepted.^[56] On the next day it was revealed that there is an alternative plan, which will entail receiving an extra 1 million Pfizer-BioNtech and 480 000 Moderna doses between March and June.^[57]

On 28 February 2021, Boyko Borisov confirmed that Bulgaria had entered talks to borrow vaccines from EU countries where there is no queuing for them, so that Bulgaria does not have to halt its vaccination process.^[58][59] On 1 March 2021, it was disclosed that Bulgaria had arranged for over 450 000 additional doses of the Moderna vaccine, as a result of a direct agreement with Sweden.^[60]

In early March 2021, Bulgaria and five other EU countries (Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, Czech Republic, and Latvia) insisted that a new debate is initiated regarding the allocation of the vaccines within the EU bloc, with Boyko Borisov echoing Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz's sentiment^[61][62] that some EU states had received more vaccines than warranted by their population numbers.^[63] On 13 March 2021, the European Commission sent out statement clarifying that some member states, with Bulgaria being implied to be among them,^[64] had on their own accord deviated from the principle of pro rata allocation during the initial placing of orders for vaccines, freeing up additional doses for other countries.^[65] Bulgaria is believed to have refrained from exercising its option of ordering 30 million doses in total.^[66] On 26 March 2021, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković stated that Bulgaria should receive the most relative to the other countries out of the 10 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines that will arrive in the second quarter of the year, earlier than scheduled, as a compensation for the production issues faced by AstraZeneca.^[67] Even though Austria (that led the redistribution campaign), Slovenia and the Czech Republic rejected the eventual proposal that was arrived at,^[68] in early April 2021, it was confirmed that Bulgaria (alongside Croatia, Slovakia, Latvia, and Estonia) will in addition to getting its pro rata allocation, also benefit from the sharing of 2.85 million "solidarity vaccines" (out of the 10 million doses) among these five countries.^[69][70]

Other vaccines[]

According to Todor Kantardzhiev, one of the members of the National Operational Headquarters for the fight against the coronavirus, Bulgaria has not ruled out the purchase of vaccines from companies with which the European Commission has not negotiated contracts, such as Sputnik and Sinopharm, as long as EU regulations are observed^[71] and especially if there is a delay regarding the delivery of the other vaccines.^[72]

On 26 February 2021, the opposition BSP party demanded that the government begin separate talks with Russia for the importation of the Sputnik vaccine.^[73] The Health Commission of the National Parliament initially rejected the proposal, but on 28 April 2021 accepted BSP's demands.^[74] However, even though ITN, Stand Up! Mafia, Get Out! and one deputy from Democratic Bulgaria joined forces with BSP during the vote on 7 May 2021,^[75] the proposal still did not pass the required threshold in the National Parliament, which would have empowered the Council of Ministers to take all necessary measures to secure access to Sputnik.^[76]

Microbiologist Andrey Chorbanov has pointed out that the country already imports medications that are not regulated by the EU, so the thinking should not be different when it comes to the Russian vaccine.^[77] The importing of vaccines from third countries has also been supported by the RzB party, even if the EU is bypassed.^[78] Some journalists have noted that Bulgaria recognizes the vaccinations of foreign citizens with Sputnik as well as with Sinopharm and Sinovac as one of the conditions for entry into the country.^[79]

A COVID-19 vaccine based on nanoparticles is presently under development by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences,^[80][81] with a mostly completed prototype, but despite receiving financial support from the Pasteur Institute, issues related to funding are expected to significantly slow down the progress when it comes to the vaccine trials.^[82] It is expected to be unveiled to the wider public at the World Congress of Vaccines in October 2021.^[83]

Approved vaccines[]

Kostadin Angelov, the former Minister of Health, has on a number of occasions reiterated that Bulgarians should be able to have a choice regarding the type of vaccine they are to receive.^[84][85]

Four vaccines are currently available for use in Bulgaria.

The first to be administered in the country was Pfizer–BioNTech, which was approved by the European Commission on 21 December 2020, on the same day after receiving recommendation for granting conditional marketing authorization by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA),^[86] with the initial doses delivered to Bulgaria 26 December,^[87] arriving from Belgium.^[88]

On 6 January 2021, following the same regulatory procedure, the Moderna vaccine was also given the green light by the European Commission,^[89] arriving in Bulgaria a week later.^[90]

On 29 January 2021, Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine received conditional authorization by the European Commission, paving the way for its use in EU countries.^[91] On the same date, Bulgarian Minister of Health stated in an interview with Boyko Vasilev during the TV show Panorama that Bulgaria will wait for the results of further studies regarding its effectiveness when it comes to people over the age of 65 before administering it to members of this age group.^[85] On 4 February 2021, Angelov clarified that there is no medical prohibition to give the vaccine to elderly people and that an additional statement will be made before Oxford-AstraZeneca begins to be administered.^[92] The government eventually concluded that the vaccine is useful for elderly citizens as well and did not exclude them from receiving it.^[93][94] The first batch of this vaccine reached Bulgaria on 6 February 2021.^[95]

On 11 March 2021, the one-shot Janssen vaccine (Johnson & Johnson) became the fourth vaccine to be conditionally approved on the EU level,^[96] arriving in Bulgaria slightly over a month later.^[97]

Vaccine	Doses ordered[98][b]	Approval	Deployment
Pfizer–BioNTech	3.9 million	21 December 2020	27 December 2020[c]
Moderna	0.96 million	6 January 2021	14 January 2021
Oxford-AstraZeneca	4.5 million	29 January 2021	7 February 2021
Janssen	2 million	11 March 2021	28 April 2021[100][d]
Novavax	1.55 million	Pending	Pending
CureVac	1 million	Pending	Pending
Sanofi	4.65 million	Pending	Pending

Donated and sold vaccines[]

Towards the end of May 2021, Bulgaria gifted 50 000 AstraZeneca Oxford-AstraZeneca doses to North Macedonia.^[102] With the supply of vaccines outstripping demand during the summer months, in July 2021 Bulgaria donated 172 500 doses of its AstraZeneca vaccines that were close to their expiration date to Bhutan.^[103] In August 2021, 50 000 doses of the same vaccine were given to Bosnia and Herzegovina as a donation^[104] while an agreement was reached with North Macedonia for the provision of 51 480 doses of the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccines as well as with Bhutan for another 172 500 AstraZeneca shots.^[105] During the same month, a number of Moderna doses were resold to Norway.^[106]

Rollout schedule and vaccine priority groups[]

The national vaccination plan was unveiled in early December 2020 and includes five phases. For the purpose of the vaccination campaign, the country was subdivided into six regions (Vratsa, Veliko Tarnovo, Varna, Bourgas, Plovdiv, and Sofia).^[107][108] Kostadin Angelov, the Health Minister, characterized it as a "dynamic plan" that could render itself to change in accordance with the situation and stated that Bulgaria drew on WHO guidance as well as the vaccination plans of Germany, France, Italy, Britain, and a number of US states, while also taking into account the specific conditions pertaining to Bulgarian health care, territory and infrastructure.^[107] A National Vaccination Operational Headquarters, chaired by Krasimir Gigov, the general director of the Bulgarian Red Cross, was also established.^[107] In January 2021, National Operational Headquarters for the fight against the coronavirus chairman Ventsislav Mutafchiyski specified that election commission members for the upcoming elections will also be considered priority groups for vaccinations.^[109] In February 2021, it was confirmed that prosecutors, legal investigators and their staff fall within Phase 3 of the vaccination plan.^[110] In the same month the national vaccination plan was further amended to allow for non-priority individuals to receive vaccines even prior to all the priority targets being covered, as long as certain conditions are observed.^[111][112] The issue of vaccine hesitancy in Bulgaria is believed to have played a part in the structuring of the plan.^[113] Todor Kantardzhiev stated in a June 2021 interview that if medical personnel had not been prioritized as part of the first phase, many hospitals would not have been able to perform their functions during the spring of 2021.^[114]

Challenges and logistics[]

On 5 December 2020, the first two ultracold freezers suitable for the storage of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in accordance with the temperature requirements were installed at the Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases in the capital.^[117] On 7 December, Bourgas became the second city in the country equipped with such a refrigerator,^[118] followed by Plovdiv on 9 December^[119] and Varna on the 18th.^[120] Each freezer can hold more than 100 000 vaccine doses.^[121]

A COVID-19 vaccination point at the University Hospital St. Ivan Rilski in Sofia, the first place in the country to offer 24-hour vaccinations.

The first vaccination site in the country was opened on 15 December 2020, being located in Sofia.^[122] On 5 January 2021, four mobile units were set up, so that elderly people living in care homes in Sofia could be vaccinated in their places of residence.^[123] Over 40 such vaccination units are expected to cover the whole country.^[122][124] As of 18 February, 5 vaccination sites are available at Pirogov Hospital in the capital, with the medical facility also being in a position to provide 2 additional mobile units.^[125] The total number of such vaccination points for the whole country had reached 352 by 23 February.^[126] The first 24-hour vaccination center in the country began operating in Sofia on 21 February 2021, just outside the University Hospital St. Ivan Rilski,^[127] followed by one in Plovdiv on 23 February.^[128] Mobile vaccination points were positioned at the entrances of a few national parks in Sofia on 29 and 30 May 2021, allowing all willing Bulgarians to receive vaccines,^[129] with the practice continuing in Sofia and other cities in the next month.^[130] The Regional Health Inspectorate of Plovdiv established open air vaccination sites in the Stolipinovo district from 12 June 2021.^[131][132] Between 8 and 13 June 2021, vaccinations were offered in a number of Varna's shopping malls.^[133] A mobile vaccination point inside a bus that is able to accommodate two people at the same time began doing the rounds in Sofia on 16 June 2021.^[134] On 19 and 20 June 2021, some of the malls in the capital city hosted mobile vaccination sites,^[135] with this practice resuming during the next weekend.^[136]

The Military Medical Academy in Sofia where former head of the National Operational Headquarters for the Fight against COVID-19 in Bulgaria Ventsislav Mutafchiyski has personally administered vaccines.

Chronology and vaccination process[]

Bulgaria was allocated 9750 doses of the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine (sufficient for more than 4000 people) for December 2020 and they arrived in the country on the 26th of the month.^[87] Just over 60 000 doses of this vaccine were expected to be available in January 2021.^[87][137]

In early December 2020, President Rumen Radev vowed to get vaccinated only once there are no people waiting in line,^[138] while Boyko Borisov stated during the same month that he would have been eager to do it, but had antibodies after recovering from COVID-19 in November 2020.^[139] On 27 July 2021, Borisov had himself publicly vaccinated, receiving the first dose of the Moderna vaccine.^[140] Other prominent members of Borisov's party also underwent the procedure.^[141]

The first person to be vaccinated in Bulgaria was Minister of Health Kostadin Angelov, which occurred in the morning of 27 December in Sofia.^[142] The second was Bulgarian Orthodox Church Bishop Tikhon, followed by a doctor and a nurse.^[143] Emanuela Petkova was the first general practitioner to receive a vaccine.^[144] Over 1500 people, mostly medical personnel, had been vaccinated by the evening of 28 December.^[145] By the late hours of 29 December, close to 3800 people had received a vaccine shot.^[146] By the first day of the New Year, the number of vaccinated people had reached 4739.^[147]

On 4 January 2021, the first batch of vaccines for this month arrived, numbering approximately 25 000 doses.^[148] Unlike in the case of the first delivery of the vaccines, no specialized transport was needed for them, as they were received in boxes with dry ice, which could retain its properties for 5 days.^[148] These vaccines were to cover the remaining front line medical personnel from the first phase as well as some social workers, social service users and educators (phase two priority groups).^[149]

As of 11 January 2021,^[g] 13,473 people had been vaccinated.^[150][151]

The first Moderna vaccine doses reached the country on 13 January 2021, numbering 2400 and designated for priority groups in Sofia.^[152] Тhe vaccinations with Moderna commencеd on the next day, with obstetrician Sofia Yordanova being the first one to receive it.^[90]

As of 13 January 2021, approximately 16 500 vaccine shots had been administered.^[153]

As of 27 January 2021, Bulgaria had vaccinated less than 35 000 citizens, which corresponded to 0.47 per 100 people, putting it in last place on a per capita basis among EU countries.^[154]

Between 27 January and 30 January 2021, some residents and staff of care homes for elderly people in Sofia received their injections, though a substantial number opted out.^[155][156]

As of 30 January 2021, 40 805 jabs had been administered, with 12 949 people receiving two doses.^[157]

On 1 February 2021, educators and staff at kindergartens and schools began to be vaccinated.^[158]

As of 4 February 2021, 94 920 vaccines had been delivered and 50 124 vaccine doses had been used, with 16 433 people having undergone the two-step vaccination process.^[92]

On 6 February 2021, the first doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca, numbering 28 800, made their arrival in the country.^[95] They began to be put to use on the next day, kickstarting Bulgaria's third phase of the vaccination campaign, which is to include members of the Central Electoral Commission and other people in charge of the procedural matters concerning the elections.^[94][159] One of the first to receive it was 76-year-old Ilina Bineva, an employee at the pharmaceutical company BulBio.^[94]

On 8 February 2021, the National Vaccination Operational Headquarters announced that all of the so far delivered AstraZeneca vaccines will be used for administering the first doses to people, in order to cover larger segments of the population and speed up the vaccination campaign.^[160]

On 19 February 2021, in what was regarded as the beginning of the mass vaccinations,^[161] Boyko Borisov ordered (after discussions with members of the National Vaccination Operational Headquarters, the National Operational Headquarters for the fight against the coronavirus, and the Health Minister) that "green corridors" be established alongside the fourth phase of the vaccination plan,^[162] allowing all adult citizens who do not fall within the priority groups to visit a vaccination point on Saturday, Sunday or the afternoon hours of working days^[163] without the need for a prior appointment^[164] and receive a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.^[165] The people who preferred one of the two approved RNA vaccines were to register at the Military Medical Academy and wait for a follow-up call once Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna doses are available.^[165] The Prime Minister insisted that at least 10 000 people are to be vaccinated per day.^[162][165] Borisov's decision was viewed as in practice resulting in the abandonment of the phased approach to vaccinations.^[165] The U-turn in the government's policies has been attributed to the need to expedite the vaccination process^[165] and the vaccine reservations displayed by members of priority groups such as medical practitioners and educators, with only 24% of the latter expressing a wish to be vaccinated.^[165] The changed approach sped up the tempo of the vaccinations, with more than 30 000 doses administered in the first three days since the opening of the "green corridors".^[166][167]

However, while medical practitioners carried on with the vaccinations, even if at a reduced pace, in a number of smaller cities,^[168] between 25 and 28 February^[163] the "green corridors" were temporarily discontinued in Sofia and other large cities because of the country mostly running out of AstraZeneca vaccines,^[169] with the remaining Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna ones set aside for priority groups.^[170]

After the arrival and distribution of 52 800 Oxford-AstraZeneca doses, the vaccinations involving non-priority targets resumed on 28 February.^[163] In contrast to the previous days, they saw a significantly more active role of the general practitioners than of the health inspectorates and the large hospitals, proceeding only if there are no people from phases 1-4 willing to be vaccinated.^[171]

On 8 March 2021, the Health Ministry took the decision to distribute a larger quantity of vaccines for the provinces where the infection rate is higher, such as Kyustendil.^[172]

On 11 March 2021, the people who had registered via the electronic system for vaccinations began receiving their injections,^[173] with all of them covered by either a Pfizer-BioNTech or a Moderna vaccine between 12 and 18 March due to a safety concern pertaining to AstraZeneca.^[174] However, the booking of slots via the electronic registration system was put on hold, as the bulk of the vaccinations were to be with AstraZeneca.^[175] Vaccinations with the adenovirus vector vaccine resumed on 19 March,^[176] with the electronic registration option for new users restored on 20 March.^[177]

During the month of March a significant number of physicians and teachers (falling within the first two phases of the vaccination plan) who had initially not made use of their priority status expressed a wish to be vaccinated.^[178][179]

The month of April saw a much reduced interest in the AstraZeneca vaccine among the members of the general public,^[180][181] with a strong preference for the RNA vaccines.^[180][182] As a result of the plummeting popularity of AstraZeneca, described as sinking to "symbolic percentages" by the Health Minister, Kostadin Angelov stated on 12 April 2021 that Bulgaria will withdraw the vaccine from the vaccination programme if the enthusiasm for it reaches rock bottom.^[183][184]

On 6 April 2021, general practitioners began receiving flasks of RNA vaccines for their patients, though the quantities were limited.^[185]

On 15 April 2021, the first doses of Janssen, numbering 14 400, were delivered to Bulgaria, but they remained in storage,^[97] as the National Vaccination Operational Headquarters in Bulgaria had not yet made a decision as to their use after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had earlier begun investigations of very rare cases of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis associated with this vaccine, with EMA also reviewing the matter.^[186]

On 26 April 2021, Chief Health Inspector Angel Kunchev confirmed that Bulgaria will give the green light to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and it may be especially useful for vaccinating certain groups, such as those employed within the tourism sector as well as demographics that are less easily reachable like the Romani people.^[187] Vaccinations with this one-dose vaccine officially began on 28 April 2021,^[100] even though a limited number of doses of Johnson & Johnson had already been administered to selected target groups in the preceding days.^[101]

"Green corridors", mainly with RNA vaccines, were opened up on 30 April, to be in operation until 9 May 2021.^[188] Over 125 000 people managed to make use of them during these 10 days.^[189] On 10 May, it was confirmed that they would be extended, as there was a sufficient quantity of vaccines (more than 270 000 doses of Pfizer vaccines had arrived on that date). On the same day, people who had specifically indicated a preference for RNA vaccines from the electronic system began receiving them.^[189] Johnson & Johnson was initially not be offered as part of the "green corridors",^[189] but it eventually started to be administered in that fashion as well.^[130]

The fifth phase of the vaccination plan began in May 2021.^[116]

On 8 May 2021, approximately 38 000 people were vaccinated, the highest number in a single day.^[190]

The milestone of 1 million administered doses of vaccines had been reached by 12 May 2021, with 362 322 people fully immunized.^[191]

On 17 May 2021, caretaker Health Minister Stoycho Katsarov who has been sharply critical of his predecessor due to the non-inclusion of elderly people in the first phase of the vaccination plan, issued a decree stipulating that only people over the age of 60 and/or those with chronic conditions are to receive injections at the different vaccination points from Monday to Thursday.^[192][193] Following strong disapproval from Kostadin Angelov and public figures such as crisis management expert Petar Velkov, who viewed this measure as pointless due to enough vaccines being available for everyone, and entailing a risk of further slowing down of the general vaccination process,^[194] Katsarov amended the decree on the next day, stating that while vulnerable people will still be prioritized, those under 60 and/or without chronic illnesses will not to be turned away if they decide to make use of a "green corridor" on one of the first four days of the week.^[195]

As of late May 2021, 2.8 million vaccine doses had been delivered to Bulgaria, of which under 1.3 million had been administered.^[196]

May 2021 was also the first month during which the number of injected first doses of vaccines was lower than in the preceding one.^[197]

In June 2021, the Ministry of Health gave the green light for the vaccination of children over the age of 12 with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.^[198][99]

On 12 June 2021, the caretaker Health Minister himself was himself immunized with a Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.^[199]

As of mid June 2021, 36 children between the ages of 12 and 15 had been vaccinated, with few parents expressing an interest.^[200]

The summer months saw a seriously dwindling interest in the vaccinations.^[201][202]

An arrow guiding the people towards a COVID-19 vaccination point during the first mass vaccinations.

A mobile vaccination point against COVID-19 in the Borisova gradina in Sofia.

Total number of vaccinations[]

Number of vaccinations per month[]

The numbers only include first doses.^[197]

Public vaccinations[]

Listed here are individuals who had their actual vaccination procedure captured on video or posted photos from the place in which their vaccine was administered for the purpose of popularizing the vaccination campaign.

Medical aspects pertaining to the vaccinations[]

General considerations[]

Asparouh Iliev, a Bulgarian specialist in molecular neuroinfectiology from the University of Bern, has praised the two RNA vaccines, characterizing them as extremely safe and also regarding them as very similar to each other.^[207] He has pointed out that the AstraZeneca vaccine has an excellent safety profile^[208] and may actually be offering even better protection than shown from the preliminary studies, considering the whole comparison exercise between the three vaccines to be pointless, urging people to take up the opportunity to get themselves vaccinated,^[209] with allergist Bogdan Petrunov maintaining that AstraZeneca is in no way inferior to the RNA vaccines.^[210]

In April 2021, pulmonologist Kosta Kostov, while acknowledging the issue of vaccine reservations in Bulgaria, also stated that the narrative that all approved vaccines on the EU level are equally safe and effective is fallacious.^[18]

Andrey Chorbanov, a member of the Institute of Microbiology at BAS and a leading figure behind the ongoing development of the Bulgarian vaccine,^[211] while supportive of vaccinating vulnerable groups, maintains that naturally acquired immunity is much stronger than the vaccine-induced one, believing that the people who have recovered from COVID-19 have very durable immunity^[77] and has opposed mandatory vaccinations against COVID-19 for young and healthy people.^[212] In his view, the major question mark surrounding the vaccines remains their actual effectiveness while their safety and the side effects are not an issue.^[77] Similarly, immunologist Velizar Shivarov affirms that people who have antibodies can afford to wait to be vaccinated.^[213] In February 2021, Todor Kantardzhiev, a member of the National Operational Headquarters for the fight against the coronavirus in Bulgaria, claimed that one vaccine dose may be sufficient for the people who have recovered from a COVID-19 infection^[214] and has also expressed the viewpoint that a person who gets infected between the two jabs may not need the second injection.^[215] Allergist Bogdan Petrunov and neuroinfectiologist Asparouh Iliev^[216] have contested Chorbanov's claims, emphasizing that vaccine-induced immunity is significantly more reliable than the naturally acquired one, especially with regard to the mutant strains of the virus.^[210]

People who have recovered from COVID-19 may undergo the two-dose vaccination process no earlier than 3 months after the laboratory confirmation of their diagnosis.^[217]

In the case of citizens who become infected after receiving their first injection (in the case of two-shot vaccines), the second dose of the vaccine is to be administered at least 6 months after the laboratory diagnosis has become official.^[217]

The recommendations of the National Vaccination Operational Headquarters in Bulgaria are that the second dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine be administered at least 10 weeks after the first.^[218]

The mixing of different types of vaccines, especially when it comes to attempting to complete the second step of the vaccination process by using another vaccine, was initially not advised,^[219] but was still considered a possibility, depending on the conclusions of further studies.^[214]

In April 2021 the Health Minister clarified that Oxford-AstraZeneca will not be administered to women under the age of 60 with an elevated risk for thrombosis and/or a history of thrombocytopenia.^[217] Chief Health Inspector Angel Kunchev stated that women under 30 who are heavy smokers, take contraceptives and are overweight are the most at risk for blood clots.^[220] The people who have received the first dose of this vaccine without experiencing any serious adverse effects may complete the vaccination process with the same one while those who do not wish so may choose one of the two RNA vaccines for their second jab, but no earlier than 84 days after the first Oxford-AstraZeneca injection.^[217] Bulgaria had previously also considered combining the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.^[183] As of 10 May 2021, it was reported that very few of the people who were due their second dose had decided to pick a RNA vaccine instead of AstraZeneca.^[116][189] On 26 August 2021, it was revealed that approximately 3000 Bulgarians had opted to take a RNA vaccine as their second dose.^[106]

Pre-vaccination and immediate aftermath[]

According to experts, there is no need for a person who is asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic to be tested for COVID-19 prior to getting the vaccine.^[221][222] A person who has been vaccinated is generally recommended to be kept for observation for 15–20 minutes in the rare case any potential side effects need to be managed.^[11]

Post-vaccination[]

As of 4 January 2021, only 4 adverse reactions to the vaccines administered had been reported - they included headaches and muscle pain, with all of the recipients' symptoms quickly subsiding.^[148] As of 12 March 2021, slightly over 830 messages regarding unwelcome side effects had been filed.^[223] As of 19 March 2021, about 1200 such reports had been submitted, with the frequency being 4 for every 1000 vaccinated for AstraZeneca, 3 for every 1000 individuals for Moderna, and slightly over 2 per 1000 for Pfizer.^[224] According to other sources, the frequency of such complaints for all three vaccines was roughly 3.2 for every 1000 shots administered, with high fever (over 38 degrees Celsius) seen as a more typical side effect of AstraZeneca.^[225] Bogdan Kirilov, the executive director of the Bulgarian Drug Agency, has noted that all of the serious adverse reactions in the case of AstraZeneca have occurred after the first dose.^[226]

Kantardzhiev stated in January 2021 that the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines are no different from those of the influenza vaccines.^[227]

In March 2021, a number of EU countries temporarily suspended vaccinations with Oxford AstraZeneca after reports of fatal or life-threatening blood clots with low platelet counts in a few people who had recently received a dose, even though no direct causal link has been established with the vaccine.^[228] Bulgaria is among the 17 EU recipients of vaccines that are part of the ABV5300 batch,^[229] which has been under investigation by the Austrian health authorities as well as by the European Medicines Agency.^[230] Bulgaria had received 31 200 doses from this batch on 12 February, with most of them administered, but no serious adverse effects were reported until 12 March.^[230] Bogdan Kirilov, the executive director of the Bulgarian Drug Agency, initially stated that the country intended to continue the vaccination process as planned.^[230] However, on 12 March 2021, Boyko Borisov ordered that vaccinations with AstraZeneca be halted until a written opinion is provided by the European Medicines Agency, clearing all doubts regarding the vaccine's safety.^[231][232] As a result, Kirilov mandated that all of the AstraZeneca doses in the country are temporarily blocked from distribution and use.^[233] The decision had also been influenced by the reported fatality of a 57-year-old woman from Plovdiv with multiple comorbidities shortly after vaccination.^[175] On 18 March 2021, the European Medicines Agency released a statement that it still considers the benefit-risk balance of the vaccine to be positive.^[234] It was also determined that no thrombosis had been observed in the case of the 57-year-old Bulgarian citizen.^[235] AstraZeneca vaccinations recommenced in Bulgaria on the next day.^[176]

After a similar issue halted the distribution of Johnson & Johnson, on 20 April 2021, the European Medicines Agency confirmed that it had discovered a link between the vaccine and instances of very rarely occurring unusual blood clots with low blood platelets, stating that the product information should contain such a warning while also assessing the benefit-risk balance to be in favour of the vaccine.^[236]

Leading immunological laboratories in the country will be monitoring at least 1000 Bulgarians for a period of two years in order to assess the nature and durability of their immunity to COVID-19.^[237]

A screenshot from the electronic registration system after vaccinations with Oxford-AstraZeneca were temporarily put to a halt.

Procedures relating to the vaccinations[]

Vaccination is voluntary and free for all citizens.^[238] The issuing of the vaccination certificate will also be at no cost for the citizen.^[239] The medical professionals administering vaccines are paid 10 leva per injection by the state.^[240] While the process had unofficially begun as early as December 2020,^[241] in late January 2021, many citizens started signing up for vaccinations with their general practitioners,^[242] with an online registration system beginning to function on 4 March 2021.^[243][244] More than 40 000 Bulgarian citizens had registered by the late afternoon hours of 5 March.^[245] As of 10 March 2021, approximately 70 000 people had selected vaccination slots for the period between 11 and 31 March.^[173] On 28 May 2021, the caretaker Health Minister approved the templates for the EU Digital COVID Certificate pertaining to a completed vaccine course, an incomplete vaccine course, and a completed mixed vaccine course.^[246] The people who have received vaccination certificates for immunizations administered up to 1 June will be able to obtain reissued versions in accordance with the EU requirements.^[246] In August 2021, Bogdan Kirilov, the executive director of the Bulgarian Drug Agency, claimed that there is no guarantee that the vaccines will remain free for all citizens in the future.^[106]

A clinic in Poduyane, Sofia where people can be tested for the virus and also receive COVID-19 vaccines.

Legal aspects[]

According to Maria Sharkova, an attorney of medical law,^[247] and Todor Kapitanov, an expert in the field of employment law,^[248] as well as other legal practitioners in Bulgaria,^[249] employers currently cannot impose a requirement on their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Effects on the pandemic[]

Estimates regarding immunity within the population[]

The officially registered COVID-19 cases in Bulgaria are believed to underestimate the actual number of infections by a factor of at least 2.^[3][250] An epidemiological study from June 2020 reached the conclusion that 2% of Bulgarians had developed antibodies against COVID-19.^[251] The Tsibalab private laboratory analyzed 2665 samples collected throughout the country between 25 May and 11 June 2021, with 1158 from them (43%) showing a positive result for the presence of antibodies. This survey has been characterized as falling far short of standards for representativeness and as methodologically suspect, with the Health Ministry criticized by experts for publicizing the results.^[252]

Alpha Research sociologists speculated, based on the results of a survey for the period between 11 and 18 December 2020, that 670 000 Bulgarians may have had the virus and recovered from it.^[253] In February 2021, a Gallup survey drew the conclusion that 1.5 million Bulgarians may have had the virus.^[254] In an April 2021 Gallup survey, close to one third of adult Bulgarians claimed to have either recovered from the virus or been vaccinated with two doses.^[255]

Мathematician Nikolay Vitanov estimated in late January 2021 that some 20% of Bulgarians may have encountered the virus in some form.^[256] In March 2021, physician Emil Hristov, drawing on various sources, provided an even higher estimate of between 2 and 2.5 million while also expressing skepticism that the number of vaccinated will start to exceed those who have recovered from infection any time soon.^[257] Mathematician Lachezar Tomov claimed in March 2021 that any numbers in the vicinity of 2 million are most likely an overestimate.^[3]

Bulgaria will receive methodology from the EU for assessing the situation in the country in terms of natural and vaccine-generated immunity to the virus.^[258]

According to Health Inspector Angel Kunchev 93.8% of the new COVID-19 infections during the third week of August 2021 were among non-vaccinated people.^[259][260]

Herd immunity scenarios[]

According to experts, 60% vaccinated people plus those who have had the disease and recovered from it may be sufficient for herd immunity to kick in.^[261] Health Minister Kostadin Angelov stated in February 2021 that at least 70% will need to be vaccinated in order to guarantee the return of normal life.^[262] In May 2021, virologist Radostina Aleksandrova, taking into account the different mutations and the delay in vaccinations, tentatively calculated the herd immunity threshold to be at 80%^[263] while in March mathematician Lachezar Tomov put the number at 85%, assuming the Alpha variant would become dominant in the country.^[3]

In June 2021, the presence of the Beta and Delta variants was detected by the National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases in the country,^[264][265] with the latter's contagiousness and the still low vaccination coverage causing some experts to speculate that another wave may occur in Bulgaria by late August,^[266] which eventually materialized as a scenario at that time.^[267]

In July 2021, molecular biologist Georgi Marinov stated that herd immunity could be achieved if 90% of the people are immunized, though he also characterized it as likely a temporary state of affairs due to the waning immunity from the vaccines. He thus advised the Bulgarians immunized in December 2020 and January 2021 to already consider a second vaccination cycle.^[268]

Asen Baltov, the director of Pirogov Hospital, cautioned in March 2021 that at least 3 million people will have to be vaccinated by August–September if the country is to avoid a fourth wave in the autumn of 2021,^[269] with caretaker Health Minister Stoycho Katsarov also acknowledging in June 2021 that Bulgaria is facing a real risk of such a scenario occurring in case of insufficient vaccination rate and due to remaining issues in the health system.^[270] Mathematician Lachezar Tomov stated in mid June 2021 that at least 30 000 new people will need to be vaccinated per day (until 15 September 2021) in order for the country to prevent this eventuality.^[38]

In late April 2021, physician Nikolay Branzalov, taking into account the ratio of vaccinated and recovered to the newly infected, predicted that unless there are major virus mutations, escaping the vaccines, there will not be a next COVID-19 wave in Bulgaria.^[271]

Ognyan Kunchev, a member of the Informatics and Mathematics Institute of BAS, estimated in March 2021 that the pandemic will peter out by the end of 2021 if 100 000-120 000 people are vaccinated per month, viewing it as likely that approximately 1 million Bulgarians have already had the virus.^[272] Allergist Bogdan Petrunov stated in March 2021 that vaccinating 2 million Bulgarians may be sufficient for attaining herd immunity^[210] while mathematician Lachezar Tomov has insisted that approximately 5 million vaccinated will be needed for collective immunity of the population.^[273]

In mid April 2021, the Health Minister stated that in an optimistic scenario herd immunity could be attained by the end of June, with the more realistic estimate being the end of July and the most pessimistic one considered to be the end of August.^[274]

In late April 2021, mathematician Nikolay Vitanov estimated a shield (recovered and vaccinated) of 33.6% Bulgarians against the virus.^[275]

R0 number[]

The R0 number for the virus is believed to be able to reach values as high as 5 or 6 if the spread is uncontrolled.^[7] In Bulgaria it was estimated to be at 1.9 (with 10 people infecting 19 others) towards the end of October 2020,^[276] between 1.2 and 1.3 in early March 2021^[3] and around 1.1 on 22 March 2021 (the first day of the third lockdown).^[276] On 13 May, mathematician Nikolay Vitanov declared that the third wave in Bulgaria is ending, emphasizing the importance of the vaccinations and appraising the basic reproduction number to be at the record low 0.595.^[277] Approximately one month later, on 11 June, it stood at 0.716.^[278]

The effective reproduction number reached a value of 1.7 during the first weeks of the pandemic^[279] and hovered at slightly above 1 in May 2020.^[279] It is believed to have been constantly on the rise since 14 January 2021, exceeding 1 by early February 2021.^[280] It was below 1 for the month of May 2021,^[273] being calculated to be 0.81 around 6 May 2021^[281] and 0.80 around 6 June 2021.^[281] In mid July 2021, experts warned that the number is once again around 1^[282] and it reached a value of 1.5 in early August.^[281]

Controversies and criticism[]

Government policies[]

The government has come under scrutiny for the delay in ordering a number of vaccines,^[49][283] the lack of sufficient transparency regarding the quantities,^[284] the call to give up on doses of the two RNA vaccines, for which Bulgaria had been eligible, during the initial pre-orders^[285][286] as well as the reasons behind its decision to center its vaccination campaign on Oxford-AstraZeneca in particular.^[287][288] In the case of the Oxford vaccine, due to the cheaper cost of AstraZeneca relative to the RNA vaccines and the former's easier storage requirements,^[289] the authorities have mainly been criticized for allowing financial considerations to take precedence over health-related ones.^[49] Concerns have also been raised due to the government not outlining a plan for creating special vaccination centers^[290] and training additional personnel capable of administering vaccine shots,^[291] which has contributed to a slow pace of the vaccinations.^[11][71] The lack of expediency with the vaccinations has been assessed as entailing significant risks for the country being able to meet its economic growth targets for 2021^[292] and has been deemed likely (in combination with the relaxing of many pandemic control measures during the month of April 2021) to considerably lessen the country's appeal as a summer destination for tourists due to a continuing high rate of infections.^[293] As of late May 2021, only 45% of the vaccine doses delivered to Bulgaria had been administered, compared to an average for the EU of 85%.^[196]

Pulmonologist Kosta Kostov has been very critical of the way in which the vaccination campaign has been organized and implemented, regarding it as not premised on empathy,^[18] being incredulous that people over 65 and clinically vulnerable individuals are in phase 4 rather than being the top priority targets^[294] and maintaining that people who have recovered from the disease should not be vaccinated as long as there is an insufficient quantity of vaccines.^[295] Similarly, Dimitrina Petkova, an expert on equality in health care, has characterized the vaccination plan as unfair to the elderly due to attaching a greater value on reducing the spread by vaccinating economically active young people rather than by focusing on especially vulnerable groups in order to save the most lives,^[192] a sentiment echoed by caretaker Health Minister Stoycho Katsarov who considered its faulty approach in terms of prioritization and the issues with vaccine procurement to have resulted in the loss of 10 000 lives.^[296]

The decision taken by the government on 19 February 2021 to set in motion the mass vaccination process has been criticized for inviting chaos,^[77][297] with general practitioners complaining of a lack of vaccines provided to them for their registered patients who belong mainly to high-risk groups,^[298][297] with most of the doses allocated to the hospitals for random vaccinations,^[170][299] not allowing for thorough medical check-ups of the people prior to the administering of vaccines.^[300] Concerns have also been raised that the citizens who had already received one shot may not be able to get their second injection as scheduled.^[170] The shift in the modus operandi has been contested for its dubious legal basis due to being in apparent contradiction with the authorities' own phased approach to the vaccinations, entailing the prioritization of vulnerable groups such as the elderly,^[297][301] and has been characterized as a desperate attempt to boost the vaccination statistics.^[297] As of 1 April 2021, only 9% of the elderly and chronically ill had been vaccinated.^[220] As of 18 May 2021, less than 20% of the people considered especially vulnerable had received at least one dose of vaccine.^[302] By 24 June 2021, one third of care home residents had been administered at least one shot of vaccine.^[265] The issue has resulted in media crossfires between Kostadin Angelov and his caretaker government successor, Stoycho Katsarov.^[302]

The need for general practitioners to queue for vaccines for their patients in front of the regional health inspectorates has invited tension and been described as humiliating as well as an example of an inefficient time management.^[303][304] In response to this issue, the caretaker government decided in May 2021 to set up logistical points for each municipality where regional health inspectorates are to deliver flasks with vaccines, taking into account the quantities requested by the general practitioners.^[305]

In March 2021, some medical experts in Bulgaria criticized the temporary suspension of the vaccinations with Oxford Astra-Zeneca as an overreaction and potentially dangerous in terms of stoking fears among the already vaccinated.^[257]

A number of media sources have taken issue with the government's manner of reporting the official figures regarding the number of individuals who have been vaccinated, believing that it invites confusion.^[1]

Concerns have been expressed regarding the lack of a targeted campaign to vaccinate children over the age of 12.^[306]

Specific incidents[]

Some of the vaccines that arrived Sofia on 26 December were subsequently transported to Plovdiv by using a Leki food industry minibus, and were then stored in a ZiL refrigerator on reaching their destination, which resulted in criticism and mockery on social media, but the Health Ministry cited examples of such reliance on the services of private companies not being an unusual practice in Western countries and maintained that all the proper guidelines had been observed.^[307]

On 9 January 2021, the Ministry of Health revealed that it was conducting an urgent investigation after receiving information that councillors in Sandanski Municipality had already received vaccines despite not being part of the groups prioritized during the first phase, as stipulated by the vaccination plan.^[308] The director of the hospital in Sandanski, Iliya Tonev, subsequently claimed that a number of the people who were to have priority in terms of vaccinations had ultimately decided against it, so appointments were set up with the councillors (who were among the volunteers in popularizing the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine) at a short notice in order for the doses not to go to waste.^[309] However, after the review of the facts, the Minister of Health was adamant that the protocols had not been adhered to in vaccinating 24 of the people, as there had been sufficient time for a proper redistribution of the vaccines, claiming that if he had the authority, he would have released the hospital director from his duties.^[153][310]

Health Minister Kostadin Angelov has expressed criticism of those medical practitioners who have encouraged their patients not to get themselves vaccinated.^[262]

In February 2021, chief national health inspector Angel Kunchev revealed that people holding anti-vaccination views had in a number of instances deliberately signed up for receiving their injections and then failed to show up in the hopes of sabotaging the vaccination process.^[311] The online registration system for vaccinations has been subjected to hacker attacks.^[312]

In late February 2021, a young couple from Pleven was refused vaccination because of not having proper health insurance. The Health Minister ordered that the case be looked into,^[313] confirming that each Bulgarian citizen is eligible for vaccination regardless of his or her health insurance status.^[314] Yordan Georgiev, the director of the St. Pantaleymon hospital where the situation had transpired, was criticized for not being familiar with the Health Ministry's policies, with journalists also drawing attention to the multitude of instances of British citizens without health insurance having received vaccinations in Bulgaria.^[314] The man and the woman were subsequently invited by other hospitals in the city to be administered their doses.^[314]

In March 2021, Angelov revealed that some people had been signing up to participate as electoral commission members (without intending to follow through with their commitments) just so that they could get themselves vaccinated.^[315]

Commitments to North Macedonia[]

In December 2020, Bulgaria stated that it will take the initiative in securing vaccines for North Macedonia and other states from the Western Balkans,^[316] but as of mid February 2021, with the country struggling to obtain enough vaccines for its own citizens, this had not materialized, generating critical headlines in the Macedonian^[317][318] and Bulgarian media.^[318][319] On 29 May 2021, it was confirmed that Bulgaria will donate 50 000 of its vaccine doses to North Macedonia as a "friendly gesture".^[102]

A banner of The Representative Office of the European Commission in Sofia intended to popularize the vaccination campaign in Bulgaria, on which a young couple is depicted.

Another poster advertising the vaccination campaign, on which a man and his granddaughter are shown.

Attitudes of the general public[]

According to an April 2020 Gallup survey, over 75% of the citizens expressed support for the lockdown-related pandemic control measures taken by the government and the members of the National Operational Headquarters for the fight against the coronavirus in Bulgaria,^[320] but the subsequent loosening of restrictions and the exponential rise in cases in October and November caused public support for the authorities' strategy to plummet to slightly over 30%.^[321]

While Bulgaria has a long tradition of compulsory immunizations against certain diseases^[322] as well as a high national vaccination coverage for children,^[323] the lack of trust in the government and the health providers is believed likely to provide additional fuel for vaccine hesitancy attitudes, which have been characterized as prominent in Bulgarian society,^[324][325] with one January 2021 Gallup poll seeing 46% of interviewees declaring that they will not take a COVID-19 vaccine.^[326] An Exacta Research Group survey covering the period between 12 and 20 March 2021 revealed that the share of Bulgarians categorically ruling out vaccination against COVID-19 had fallen to below 40%.^[327] However, in May 2021 the country still occupied the top spot among EU countries with regard to vaccine skepticism, according to data from Eurofound.^[196][328] The likely false belief among many Bulgarians that they have already had the virus and recovered from it has also been identified as a contributing factor to the vaccine skepticism.^[29]

Due to the vaccine trepidations and the proliferation of conspiracy theories in Bulgaria pertaining to the nature of the virus itself,^[329] an information and explanation campaign pertaining to the vaccines and directed at the general public, including educated groups such as teachers,^[330] and the physicians themselves, a low percentage of whom have recommended vaccination to their patients,^[331] with 20.8% of medical personnel immunized as of 27 June 2021,^[332] has been identified by some journalists as the real challenge with regard to vaccinating a sufficient number of people, so that herd immunity could be reached.^[333] The media in Bulgaria have been blamed for giving undue weight to vaccine skepics, including those within the medical community, in their coverage of COVID-19.^[334]

Public vaccinations of politicians have also been regarded as potentially useful in allaying people's fears of the COVID-19 vaccines.^[38] The Representative Office of the European Commission in Sofia has pledged cooperation with the Ministry of Health in popularizing the vaccination campaign,^[335] In June 2021, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides visited Bulgaria and discussed the country's vaccination program as well as suitable measures to broaden the appeal of the vaccines.^[258] with the WHO also offering financial support.^[336] Hotels and restaurants in the Albena resort achieved a high degree of vaccination coverage as a result of the provision of financial incentives by the management.^[334][337]

In July 2021, as part of its strategy for encouraging vaccinations, the Ministry of Education took the decision to offer two additional days of paid leave to educators who are vaccinated while the schools where at least 70% of staff members are vaccinated will receive a certificate for contribution to public health.^[338]

Health Inspector Angel Kunchev has urged that vaccinations be made mandatory for medical personnel and social workers in frequent contact with elderly people,^[339] with caretaker Health Minister Stoycho Katsarov also being sympathetic to the idea of people with certain occupations being subject to obligatory vaccinations.^[340]

There have been regional differences regarding the interest in the vaccinations^[52] and people residing in smaller cities and villages have been less enthusiastic about the "green corridors".^[341] Education correlates positively with a desire for vaccination.^[327] Skepticism regarding vaccines is also a major issue when it comes to the Romani people,^[342][343] though the interest among the members of this group has increased, with the one-dose Janssen vaccine being the most popular.^[344] The offering of financial bonuses is believed likely to yield dividends in increasing the vaccination drive.^[345]

According to a March 2021 survey, 65.8% of the general practitioners' patients preferred one of the two RNA vaccines, 28.9% expressed no preference while 5.3% gave the nod to Oxford-AstraZeneca,^[346] with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine being the most in demand as part of the "green corridors".^[347]

A small protest against the vaccinations took place on 17 March 2021, in front of the Ministry of Health,^[348] while a similar demonstration occurred on 29 May 2021, in front of a vaccination point at Yuzhen Park.^[349] Parties on the far right, such as Vazrazhdane, have expressed reservations regarding the vaccinations,^[336] though the mainstream ITN has also been accused by some sources of dabbling in anti-vaccine rhetoric.^[29][350]

An April 2021 Gallup survey revealed that 50% of Bulgarians expressed qualified support for COVID-19 vaccine passports while 43% were opposed.^[255]

See also[]

• COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
• Deployment of COVID-19 vaccines
• Statistics of the COVID-19 vaccination
• COVID-19 vaccination in Albania
• COVID-19 vaccination in Croatia
• COVID-19 vaccination in France
• COVID-19 vaccination in Germany
• COVID-19 vaccination in Greece
• COVID-19 vaccination in Hungary
• COVID-19 vaccination in Italy
• COVID-19 vaccination in Moldova
• COVID-19 vaccination in Norway
• COVID-19 vaccination in the Republic of Ireland
• COVID-19 vaccination in Romania
• COVID-19 vaccination in Russia
• COVID-19 vaccination in Sweden
• COVID-19 vaccination in Switzerland
• COVID-19 vaccination programme in the United Kingdom

Notes[]

References[]

External links[]

• Media related to COVID-19 vaccination in Bulgaria at Wikimedia Commons
• National Vaccination Plan against COVID-19 for the Republic of Bulgaria
• Unified Informational Portal about the COVID-19 vaccines in Bulgaria
• Registration for COVID-19 vaccination in Bulgaria
• Covid-19 vaccination tracker in Bulgaria - with historical data group by day
• Covid-19 vaccinations in Bulgaria - figures for all Bulgarian provinces
• Overview of the vaccine roll-out for Europe
• COVID-19 vaccination rates in European countries
• COVID-19 vaccination tracker for all countries
• Detailed vaccination statistics for all countries
• COVID-19: global summary and trends in the spread of the virus