Tunisia-After first batch of flu vaccines runs out, Minister of Health promises 1 million doses

Health Minister Faouzi Mehdi announced on Friday that a million additional doses of seasonal influenza vaccines will be provided, in coordination with relevant authorities, after demand exceeded imported quantities and led to the depletion of the first batch on markets estimated at 100,000 doses, in record time.

He added, in response to questions from parliamentarians during a plenary session held by the parliament for the dialogue on the health, educational and social situation in the country, that the Central Pharmacy has provided more than 310,000 doses of vaccines, which 50,000 have been allocated for the benefit of medical and paramedical agents.

On Thursday, the Central Pharmacy distributed the first batch of 100,000 doses to private pharmacies and wholesalers, at a rate of 40 doses for each pharmacy, which was sold out in record time due to high demand.

The Minister of Health affirmed that coordination is currently underway with the Ministry of Finance to provide the necessary financial allocations, in the event of the discovery of a vaccine against the Covid-19 disease or of an effective drug to treat the emerging coronavirus.