A new national immunisation schedule for children has come into force since the beginning of the year. The revaccination for prevention of tuberculosis and the Mantoux skin test for 11-year-olds are dropped out of the obligatory calendar. The pneumococcal vaccine for children up to 6 months of age is reduced from 3 to 2 doses. For children 12 years of age, whooping cough revaccination is introduced. 

The chickenpox (varicella) vaccine becomes recommended. It will be paid by the parents and will be bought from pharmacies. However, it is not yet available in the country's pharmacy network. The varicella vaccine should be included in the mandatory immunization schedule within a few years because 30,000 people get sick from this contagious disease, as 0.5% develop complications and there are 3 death cases a year, said the Chief State Health Inspector Dr. Angel Kunchev .