Flu shots available at all primary healthcare clinics in Armenia

Flu vaccines are now available at all primary healthcare clinics in Armenia, and vaccination is free for both Armenian and foreign citizens. 

People are free to choose any polyclinic for vaccination, and several mobile vaccination centers will also operate in Yerevan.

Zaruhi Grigoryan, Deputy Director General of the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health, said that 225,000 doses of the vaccine have been procured this year.

“Year after year, we see more citizens seeking vaccination. We are increasing the number of vaccines in response to demand. It is noticeable that our citizens have become more informed, and in addition to people in risk groups, many others are also seeking vaccination. I should say that our citizens are free to choose a polyclinic; they can go to any location and get vaccinated,” Grigoryan said.

To make vaccination more accessible, mobile centers will also operate at several locations in Yerevan, specifically in the Vernissage area, Republic Square and near the statue of Gai. The mobile centers will operate from 10:00 to 16:00. Vaccination is free, and both Armenian citizens and foreign citizens can receive it.

Svetlana Grigoryan, Head of the Immunization Department of the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health, said that vaccination is particularly important for people in risk groups.

“The risk groups are people over the age of 65, pregnant women, children aged six months to five years, both beneficiaries and staff at social care centers, healthcare workers, and military personnel. Influenza manifests itself in a more severe form in these groups. Vaccination specifically prevents severe forms of the disease and deaths,” Svetlana Grigoryan said.

She said that vaccination is also available to people with mobility problems. In such cases, they should contact their assigned medical center, which will arrange for vaccination at the person’s place of residence.

The epidemiological situation is currently calm. Experience shows that activity usually begins in early October, while influenza circulates most widely in November and December. Therefore, specialists urge people to get vaccinated during this period and protect themselves ahead of the seasonal increase in activity.