Flu vaccine supply crisis hits private sector in Cyprus

Private pharmacies in Cyprus are facing a critical shortage of flu vaccines after Viatris Hellas unexpectedly cancelled orders for 13,000 doses that were placed six months ago. The disruption, which was reported on October 9, 2026, is attributed to international production delays caused by updates to the three influenza virus strains included in this year's vaccines. This supply issue has affected both private providers and the national vaccination program, which is currently managing a delay in receiving 110,000 doses for the state sector.

To address the shortfall, the Ministry of Health has announced plans to redistribute approximately 10,000 doses from its own stock to the private sector once they arrive. Ministry officials, including Deputy Director-General Elisavet Constantinou, have described the situation as manageable and urged the public to remain calm, noting that the national vaccination program for vulnerable groups, such as those over 60, is already in progress. The government is currently coordinating the distribution of these vaccines to ensure that both public and private needs are met as shipments arrive over the next two weeks.