Ljubljana - Slovenia has received this week 100,800 doses of the Pfizer vaccine adapted to the original coronavirus variant and the BA.4 and BA.5 sub-lineages of the Omicron variant, the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) has told the STA. BA.5 is currently the prevalent sub-variant in Slovenia.

The NIJZ said it would deliver the first 8,460 doses of the new vaccine to the 27 vaccination centres around the country that had already ordered the vaccine on Thursday.

NIJZ expects another 100,800 does of the same vaccine to arrive in the country next week.

The new vaccine is registered only for booster jabs. NIJZ currently recommends vaccination with a second booster for vulnerable chronic patients, care home residents and everyone over 60.

In the first half of September, Slovenia got a delivery of the Pfizer vaccine adapted to target the original coronavirus variant and the BA.1 sub-lineage of Omicron, which is no longer prevalent in Slovenia. Vaccination with that jab started last week.

Meanwhile, the Moderna vaccine adapted for BA.1 that has already arrived in the country has not yet been released by the NIJZ because it is still waiting for the producer to provide the required paperwork.