As Bulgaria advances its move to electronic health records, health experts highlight updated guidance on early flu and chickenpox vaccinations for children, amidst ongoing confusion over paperwork and vaccine delivery methods.
As autumn returns, parents are once again weighing when to book flu jabs for their children and whether it makes sense to protect them against chickenpox as well. At the same time, confusion persists over health records, with some nurseries and schools still asking for paper documents even though Bulgaria’s health system has moved towards electronic records.
Speaking to DarikNews.bg, general practitioner Miroslav Spasov said the best time for a flu vaccine is before the season peaks, not after outbreaks have already begun. The CDC says September and October are the best months for most people to get vaccinated, and notes that children who need two doses should receive the second at least four weeks after the first. For children, the goal is to have immunity in place before the winter wave arrives.
Spasov said children can be vaccinated once the dose is available in surgeries and pharmacies, provided they are well on the day of vaccination. He also pointed out that common side effects may include soreness, redness or warmth at the injection site, along with fever, tiredness or joint pain, which usually pass within a few days. The Mayo Clinic says it can take up to two weeks after a flu shot for protection to develop, and stresses that the vaccine cannot give a child influenza.
He also discussed the nasal flu vaccine, which offers an alternative for some children. Its main appeal, he said, is that it avoids an injection, but proper administration matters and should be carried out by someone with experience. The CDC includes both flu shots and nasal spray vaccines among the options for children, while noting that annual vaccination is recommended for everyone aged six months and older.
On chickenpox, Spasov said parents should not wait for exposure before deciding on vaccination. He described the vaccine as suitable for children who have not previously encountered the varicella-zoster virus, while those who have had chickenpox already generally do not need it. He added that the vaccine can be given from nine months of age, in two doses spaced at least 30 days apart, and warned against the still-common practice of organising deliberate infection among children.
The doctor also addressed the paperwork confusion that continues to surround children’s health checks. He said the old paper “personal health-preventive card” no longer exists in law, and that preventive examinations are now entered electronically by the family doctor or paediatrician into Bulgaria’s National Health Information System. The Ministry of Health says the eZdrave app gives parents access to medical examinations, vaccinations and other records for both themselves and their minor children. Spasov said the real problem is uneven practice, with some institutions still asking for paper files despite the shift to digital records.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
