Portugal Blocks Flu and Hep A Vaccine Exports, Securing Local Supplies

A surprise alert from Portugal’s medicines watchdog means that flu jabs, hepatitis-A doses and dozens of other drugs can no longer cross the border for the time being. Pharmacies insist day-to-day dispensing will continue, yet the move hints at the fragile equilibrium that keeps national stocks safe — and the repercussions stretch far beyond a single winter.

Snapshot: What changed overnight?

• 73 medicinal products — from routine influenza vaccines to specialised oncology injections — were tagged in an Infarmed circular as “export-sensitive”.

• The measure is temporary but immediate, covering parallel trade as well as direct export.

• Authorities say the decision protects domestic supply, especially for the upcoming January vaccination push.

• Pharmacies have been asked to file weekly inventory reports so shortages can be spotted early.

Why the watchdog stepped in

Infarmed’s analysts noticed a double-digit jump in requests to ship several high-demand medicines to other EU countries. The surge coincided with unusually strong pre-winter orders for the southern hemisphere’s influenza season and with the tourism bump that often drains coastal stocks. By activating an export brake, Lisbon seeks to prevent a repeat of 2019’s antibiotic shortfall, when community pharmacies relied on emergency batches flown in from Madrid. Supply-chain software, customs data and wholesalers’ ledgers fed the risk model that underpinned yesterday’s ruling.

Which medicines are affected?

The confidential annex, seen by Público, covers a broad spectrum:• Tetravalent flu vaccine vials• Monodose hepatitis-A ampoules• Paediatric penicillin suspensions• Two biosimilar oncology agents• A fast-moving GLP-1 diabetes pen• RSV prophylactic shots for newborns• Several intensive-care anaesthetics

Each item met at least two red-flag criteria: scarce active ingredient, limited EU manufacturing sites, or high parallel-trade premiums. The ban will be reviewed every 30 days, with Infarmed reserving the right to add or remove molecules.

Impact on seasonal vaccination efforts

Local health centres still hold enough influenza doses for the remaining over-65 cohort, according to the General Directorate of Health. However, private clinics that cater to business travellers are already rationing hepatitis-A shots, critical for clients heading to endemic regions. Lisbon’s airport vaccination booth reported a 22% week-on-week spike in appointments immediately after the circular leaked on social media. Family doctors, wary of misinformation, are urging patients to stick to scheduled appointments rather than stockpile.

Pharmacies and distributors react

The National Association of Pharmacies described the decision as a “necessary firewall” but warned that independent chemists in border towns like Elvas and Valença could see cash-flow pinch points. They often rely on selling excess stock to Spanish wholesalers during slow months. The two largest distributors, Alliance Healthcare and Cofarma, have created dedicated helplines to log real-time shortages. Meanwhile, courier firms that specialise in express medicinal export face abrupt revenue dips, underlining the knock-on effects across the logistics sector.

How does Portugal’s move compare abroad?

• Ireland introduced a similar export stop list for 71 items in late 2024, but lifted most restrictions within 6 weeks.• Greece maintains a rolling ban on roughly 260 drugs, sparking periodic frictions with Brussels over single-market rules.• During the COVID-19 emergency, India halted overseas sales of multiple vaccines, demonstrating how producer nations flex export policy to secure domestic needs.Regulators in Lisbon insist the Portuguese measure complies with EU Directive 2001/83/EC, which allows derogations when “public-health emergencies” threaten supply. Legal specialists note that the circular’s language is narrower than bans seen elsewhere, potentially shielding Portugal from infringement proceedings.

Looking ahead: will shelves stay full?

Infarmed’s surveillance dashboard tracks dispensing volumes, wholesale orders and hospital requisitions in near real-time. If usage patterns stabilise, officials believe the export block could be relaxed by early spring. Yet rising international demand for high-tech biologics and combination vaccines means similar interventions may become part of the regulatory toolkit. For now, the advice to residents is straightforward: book vaccinations on time, avoid hoarding and report local stock gaps to your pharmacy — a small civic step that helps keep the entire system resilient.