Pharmacists across Greece are expressing strong frustration after the National Organization for the Provision of Health Services (EOPYY) announced that it will no longer cover the four-strain (quadrivalent) flu vaccine, effective from October 31.
The decision means that anyone wishing to receive the quadrivalent vaccine must now pay privately, even though pharmacies have already prepaid for large quantities of the vaccine earlier this year.
Typically, pharmacists order their flu vaccine stock each March, months before the start of the October vaccination season. Until recently, both the three-strain (trivalent) and four-strain vaccines were reimbursed by EOPYY.
However, following an announcement by the Greek National Organization for Medicines (EOF), only the trivalent vaccine is now eligible for reimbursement. The change was justified after international health authorities stated that the fourth flu strain included in the vaccine has largely disappeared, making the three-strain version sufficient for protection.
Despite this, pharmacists argue the timing of the decision is unfair, as they had already invested in quadrivalent doses months in advance. Ironically, the three-strain vaccine is more expensive than the four-strain version.
According to the Ministry of Health, EOPYY will resume reimbursement for the quadrivalent vaccine once the trivalent stock runs out, but pharmacists warn that the current policy leaves both pharmacies and patients at a loss during peak flu season.
