Vaccines: What’s Changing for Adults – New COVID-19 Vaccination Protocol

The National Vaccination Committee is implementing significant changes to the adult vaccination program for 2025, aiming to bolster public health. These changes include integrating new vaccines into state-funded coverage and establishing an annual COVID-19 vaccination schedule. By enhancing state coverage and adding new vaccines, the goal is to strengthen vaccination awareness among adults, which remains low in our country. Professor Maria Theodoridou, Chair of the Committee, highlights that the pandemic has led to vaccine fatigue as infectious diseases surge globally, prompting health authorities to sound the alarm. For individuals over 75, immunocompromised patients, and other special patient categories who are recommended for annual coronavirus vaccinations, a two-dose program with six months between doses is now established. The first dose should be administered in October, coinciding with the flu vaccine. Additionally, free RSV vaccination will be available for pregnant women delivering between October and March each year, protecting both mothers and newborns from severe infections. Another key change includes incorporating the stronger 20-valent pneumococcal vaccine, replacing older versions, offering broader protection against pneumonia and other serious illnesses. Furthermore, free HPV vaccination will now extend up to age 18 until 2026, giving adolescents more time to complete their vaccinations. These adjustments aim not only to protect vulnerable groups but also to enhance overall public health.