Do you need a prescription for the flu vaccine?
For reimbursed dispensing, yes. Your family doctor or another doctor contracted with the health insurance house prescribes the vaccine after an assessment. Meeting an age condition does not replace the prescription and does not by itself determine the appropriate vaccine. To buy it at full price, ask the doctor and the pharmacist about the dispensing conditions of the recommended product.
The route explained by the Neamț Public Health Directorate for the 2026–2027 season is: prescription, collection from the pharmacy, then administration at the surgery or in an authorised pharmacy. Check who qualifies for 100% or 50% reimbursement through CNAS before buying.
What should you prepare before you go?
- The prescription and the identification details needed for dispensing; ask the doctor how you receive and use the prescription.
- Your identity document and health card, if they apply to you; for children or special situations, confirm which documents are accepted.
- The medical recommendation and your vaccination history, if you choose administration in a pharmacy.
If you do not have your card to hand, explain the situation to the doctor or the pharmacy before you go. Do not automatically assume that you have lost the right to reimbursement. Also ask until when the prescription can be used; do not leave checking the stock until the last day.
Can you get the vaccine directly in a pharmacy?
Only at outlets authorised for this service and under the conditions set out in Ministry of Health Order 3.262/2022: a medical recommendation, a previous flu vaccination, a prior assessment and informed consent. For minors, the request is made by the legal representative. Confirm beforehand whether the pharmacy can vaccinate the person you are booking for.
If it is the first flu vaccination, discuss administration with your family doctor. For children, start with the family doctor or the paediatrician. A pharmacy that sells the vaccine is not automatically a vaccination centre.
Four questions for the pharmacy
- Do you have the prescribed vaccine and can you dispense it on my reimbursed prescription?
- How much do I pay for the vaccine, and what is the fee for administration?
- When is the vaccinating pharmacist available, and is an appointment needed?
- Which documents and conditions apply to the person being vaccinated?
You will find the contact details in the directory of pharmacies offering vaccination, by town and county. The general opening hours do not guarantee that the vaccinating pharmacist is present at all times.
If you collect the vaccine and have it administered elsewhere
Arrange the appointment first and ask the pharmacist for transport instructions. The Public Health Directorate recommends storage and transport at 2–8 °C, in the original packaging. Follow the leaflet of the product you receive. If you do not know whether the temperature has been maintained, ask the pharmacist for advice before administration.
The information here explains access to the service. The choice of vaccine and the decision to administer it rest with the vaccinating doctor or pharmacist.
Frequently asked questions
- Who can prescribe the reimbursed flu vaccine?
- Your family doctor or another doctor contracted with the health insurance house, after assessing eligibility and choosing the appropriate vaccine.
- Can I have my first flu vaccination in a pharmacy?
- The programme's conditions in Ministry of Health Order 3.262/2022 include a previous flu vaccination. For a first vaccination, discuss administration with your family doctor.
- Does every pharmacy that sells the vaccine also administer it?
- No. Administration requires a pharmacy authorised for vaccination and a trained pharmacist on hand. Confirm the opening hours and conditions before your visit.
- Do I have to buy the vaccine before booking the appointment?
- It is useful to confirm the stock and the place of administration first, so that transport and storage can be organised properly. Ask the pharmacist for instructions for the prescribed product.