Portugal Exceeds Flu Jab Goal Early, Ensuring Smoother Winter for Residents

Portugal’s public-health authorities say this winter’s influenza drive has already exceeded the 2.5 million-dose target, a milestone that analysts once feared would be out of reach in a post-pandemic world of vaccine fatigue.

At a Glance: What Matters for Residents

• 2.6 M+ flu jabs administered across mainland Portugal and the islands so far

• Campaign passed its goal five weeks ahead of schedule

• Highest uptake among people over 65, but working-age adults boosted figures

• Pharmacies now account for roughly 1 in every 3 vaccinations

• Officials eye the same strategy for spring COVID booster rollout

Why Beating the Goal Is More Than a Symbolic Win

Hitting the threshold early gives the National Health Service (SNS) an invaluable cushion if the virus peaks later than usual. Hospital wards in Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra are running close to capacity because of seasonal respiratory cases and lingering COVID-19 admissions. A wider immune wall, even of a few extra percentage points, could free up beds and staff hours just as tourists begin returning for Carnival and Easter city breaks.

How the 2024/25 Campaign Was Run

The Directorate-General of Health (DGS) started dispatching doses to clinics in late September, a fortnight earlier than last winter. Three tactics drove the numbers:

Automatic SMS invites to every citizen registered with a family doctor over age 50.

A public-private pact that let more than 800 pharmacies administer shots free of charge for priority groups.

Mobile teams sent to 60 smaller municipalities in the Alentejo and the interior North, where public-transport links are thin.

Health Minister Manuel Pizarro told reporters that "the country’s capacity to innovate after the COVID experience is now part of our routine arsenal"—an approach he wants to replicate when an updated coronavirus booster becomes available in March.

Regional Picture: Interior Steps Up

Urban districts still lead in absolute numbers—Lisbon and Porto together account for over 900,000 vaccinations—but the most striking growth came from rural areas:

• Bragança +28% versus last season

• Beja +24% despite population decline

• Azores and Madeira reached 70% coverage among seniors, on par with Scandinavia’s best-performing regions

Europe-Wide Context

Portugal’s early finish places it alongside Denmark and the Netherlands, the only other EU members to report meeting national objectives before the new year. Spain lags at roughly 60% of its goal, while Italy’s rollout is dogged by distribution bottlenecks in the south.

Roadblocks That Haven’t Disappeared

Even with a strong year, officials concede that under-50 uptake barely scratches 20%. Employers are reluctant to offer on-site clinics now that legal pandemic obligations have lapsed. Another concern is the shortage of nurses willing to do overtime in February, traditionally the peak month for final-push weekend drives.

Next on the Calendar: Spring Booster and Digital Passports

The SNS plans to merge appointment systems so residents can book a flu, COVID, or pneumococcal jab in a single click via the SNS24 app. Lawmakers are also debating allowing certified community nurses to vaccinate at home, a measure elder-care advocates have requested for years.

Key Takeaways for People in Portugal

Booking early still matters: neighbourhood pharmacies fill up first. Keep an eye on the SNS24 app for leftover slots. If you’re heading abroad for school breaks, a timely flu jab remains one of the cheapest travel insurances you can buy—and with the country already blasting past its target, supply is unlikely to be a problem this season.