Why should I get vaccinated against flu and COVID-19 during the seasonal vaccination campaign?
Flu and COVID-19 vaccines aim to reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalisation and death from infection. The Autumn-Winter 2023-2024 Seasonal Vaccination Campaign is designed to encourage the most vulnerable population to get vaccinated in the seasons when these infections are most common.
Is seasonal flu and COVID-19 vaccination free?
yes. Seasonal flu and COVID-19 vaccination is free of charge for the most vulnerable population, including:
- Vaccination against flu:
- people 60 years of age or older
- people aged between 50 and 59 years, who want to be vaccinated after individual benefit-risk weighing
- people over 6 months of age who are living in or hospitalized for prolonged periods in nursing homes or healthcare institutions and with certain chronic diseases and conditions
- Pregnant
- health professionals from the National Health Service (including students in clinical traineeships), firefighters with direct contact with older people, prison professionals and professionals in contact with residents or hospitalized for prolonged periods in healthcare institutions
- Vaccination against COVID-19:
- people 60 years of age or older
- people aged between 18 and 59 years, who want to be vaccinated after individual benefit-risk weighing
- people aged 5 to 59 years and with risk diseases
- Pregnant
- professionals and residents in Residential Structures for the Elderly, similar institutions, the National Network of Integrated Continuing Care and prisons
- professionals from health services (public and private) and other health care services, students in clinical internship, and firefighters involved in the transport of patients, caregivers to dependent persons
Is the flu vaccine recommended for other groups?
According to the norm of the Directorate-General for Health, regardless of whether it is free of charge, vaccination against flu is also recommended to:
- cohabitants and carers of high-risk people who cannot be vaccinated
- cohabitants and carers of children whose age does not allow vaccination (less than 6 months) and who are at high risk of developing complications
- Nursery, crèche and similar professionals
Where can I get vaccinated?
Vaccination can be done at the following locations:
- in the Clusters of Health Centers / Local Health Units and hospital centers
- In pharmacies adhering to the seasonal vaccination campaign (pharmacy locator)
- at other vaccination sites outside health care facilities (home, Occupational Health and Safety Services of health establishments or ERPI, prisons)
Who can go to a pharmacy to get vaccinated?
According to the norm of the Directorate-General for Health, all people are eligible for the administration of both vaccines in the community pharmacy free of charge:
- aged 50 years and older (flu) and 18 years (COVID-19)
- and no record of serious adverse reaction or hypersensitivity to any of the vaccines
- and who, with regard to COVID-19 vaccination, have previously received an mRNA technology vaccine (i.e. those marketed by Pfizer or Moderna laboratories)
Do I need a prescription?
No, for vaccination at the pharmacy you do not need a prescription, but you must present the Citizen's Card.
In which pharmacies can I be vaccinated?
Vaccination against flu and/or COVID-19 is available at all pharmacies participating in the campaign. You can consult the list of participating pharmacies at pharmacy locator or ask at your usual or nearest pharmacy.
How can I schedule a vaccination?
You can schedule seasonal vaccination against COVID-19 and/or flu through the scheduling platform of Portuguese pharmacies.
In this case, you will receive a confirmation SMS 24 hours before the scheduled date. If your pharmacy does not have this option available, you can schedule directly at the counter or by phone.
Scheduling is not mandatory, but it is recommended.
Can I get vaccinated against COVID-19 and flu at the same time?
yes. In the case of flu and COVID-19 vaccines, the administration can be simultaneous, and it is not necessary to respect any time interval. You may, however, choose to be given one vaccine and, some time later, the other, without the need to respect any specific interval in the particular case of these two vaccines.
Can I opt for only one of the vaccines?
yes. Administration of both vaccines is highly recommended, however, you can choose to get vaccinated against the flu or COVID-19 only.
I was given a different vaccine recently. Do I have to wait to get vaccinated against the flu or COVID-19?
For the influenza vaccine, it is not necessary to respect any interval between administrations, provided that there are no contraindications or precautions that prevent vaccination.
For the COVID-19 vaccine, to date, the recommendations state that an interval of at least two weeks should be respected in relation to the administration of other vaccines, after which administration may be made, provided that there is no contraindication or precaution to prevent it.
How does the pharmacy know if I can get vaccinated against COVID-19?
At the time of vaccination, the pharmacist checks if there are any contraindications or precautions for the use of the vaccine, in addition to consulting the e-vaccination bulletin, in order to ensure your eligibility for vaccination.
When should I postpone COVID-19 vaccination?
You should postpone vaccination in the following situations:
- if you have symptoms of COVID-19: recent or worsening cough, or fever of 38.0°C or more, or shortness of breath/difficulty breathing with no other attributable cause
- if you have recently had COVID-19: a time interval of four to six months (minimum of three months) between the diagnosis of COVID-19 and the seasonal booster dose should be respected
- if you have recently been in contact with a confirmed case: if the contact occurred less than two to three weeks ago, you should take a rapid test for COVID-19
I've never had the COVID-19 vaccine. Can I get vaccinated now at a pharmacy?
We recommend that you talk to your doctor or go to the health centre.
I got a COVID-19 vaccine booster last year. Do I need to be vaccinated again?
It is recommended that you do, as this vaccine is adapted to protect against the strains currently in circulation.
Are vaccines recorded in the vaccination record?
Yes. Vaccination data are available in the vaccination bulletin and can be consulted through the SNS 24 Portal or the SNS 24 App.
Learn more at Electronic vaccination record.