October the 12th, 2025 – Flu season is just around the corner (again!) and free influenza vaccines for the most prominent strains circulating this year are free for certain groups in Croatia.
The vaccine has managed to bring down deaths, but a large number of people still die after contracting influenza each year. The most vulnerable to all strains of flu are older people, people who are immuno-compromised for some reason (such as those undergoing treatment for cancer or recovering from treatment) and those with pre-existing conditions that cause respiratory complaints.
Croatia has secured vaccines which target the most prominent strains this flu season and certain groups will be able to access it free of charge.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, we’re just ahead of the flu season, and the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ) has procured 420,000 doses of the vaccine. These vaccines are currently being delivered to county public health institutes across the country, with vaccination set to begin being rolled out next week.
As was the case in previous years, Croatia has ensured that the seasonal influenza vaccine will be free primarily for people at increased risk of developing a severe clinical picture and/or complications should they contract the virus. These are people over 65, residents of nursing homes and care facilities for people with chronic health issues, as well as the employees of these facilities. All of these people are entitled to free a vaccination. Vaccination is also free for people with chronic diseases, especially heart, lung, kidney or metabolic diseases, including children with diseases such as asthma, cystic fibrosis or diabetes, as reported by Mirovina.hr.
People with weakened immune systems such as those undergoing or recovering from cancer treatment, children and adolescents who have been on acetylsalicylic acid therapy for a long time, pregnant women and healthcare workers are also entitled to free vaccination. Everyone who is entitled to free vaccination and who wants to get vaccinated must contact their family doctors, or in the case of children, their parents must contact their pediatricians, according to the Croatian Institute of Public Health.
The recommended vaccinations for the 2025/2026 flu season are as follows:
Influenza A(H1N1): An A/Victoria/4897/2022 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus
Influenza A(H3N2): An A/Croatia/10136RV/2023 (H3N2)-like virus
Influenza B/Victoria lineage: A B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus
Vaccination against flu will be available at public health institutes nationwide as of next week.
