The seasonal peak of influenza in Veneto is approaching, expected by the second week of January. Already thousands of people from Treviso have contracted the virus in recent months which, last week, forced 200 patients to be hospitalized, causing 13 victims among the Over 65s.
FREE OF VACCINE
However, from today, 1 January 2026, in light of the high circulation of the virus in Veneto, the Region’s Prevention Directorate has strengthened the offer by extending the free vaccination in participating pharmacies to all citizens over 18 years of age until the stocks purchased by Azienda Zero run out. We reiterate that this is a voluntary vaccination. By making an appointment, anyone over the age of 18 and who has already had the flu vaccination at least once will be able to go to the pharmacy and be vaccinated for free. Subjects with a previous allergic/anaphylactic reaction to a vaccination or other substances (e.g. drugs or foods) will not be vaccinated; subjects who have a contraindication or precaution to vaccination detected during pre-vaccination triage; limited to the Covid 19 vaccine, extremely vulnerable subjects (e.g. respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, cystic fibrosis, renal, autoimmune, oncological diseases, Down syndrome, subjects with organ transplants, HIV). The lists of pharmacies participating in the service can be consulted on the Ulss 2 Marca Trevigiana website.
THE NUMBERS
2025 ended with an increase in flu vaccinations in pharmacies: the 2025-2026 campaign recorded a +24% compared to last year. And from January 1, 2026, the flu vaccination will be free for over 18s in all participating pharmacies in the Veneto region. From the beginning of October – the start of the anti-flu campaign – to 28 December 2025, based on data from the Veneto Region, 65,144 administrations of anti-flu and 10,164 anti-Covid vaccines were recorded in Veneto pharmacies. The flu numbers are higher than in the same period last year when, after 13 weeks, the 2024-2025 vaccinations were 52,587. The increase for pharmacies in Veneto is 12,557 more vaccinations, equal to 23.4%. According to the Veneto Region report, there were 57,806 flu vaccinations for exempt subjects and 7,338 those requested by paying subjects. There are currently 492 participating pharmacies with at least one administration (476 in the last campaign). This is the territorial breakdown: Ulss 1 Dolomiti administrations 2,778 (2,451 exempt/327 paying); Ulss 2 Marca Trevigiana 13,367 (10,993/1,374); Ulss 3 3 Serenissima 7,647 (6,723/924); Ulss 4 Eastern Veneto 1,105 (931/174); Ulss 5 Polesana 4,117 (3,773/344); Ulss 6 Euganea 13,598 (11,961/1,637); Ulss 7 Pedemontana 2,694 (2,289/405); Ulss 8 Berica 5,441 (4,541/900); Ulss 9 Scaligera 15,397 (14,144/1,253). For the anti-Covid vaccination, there are 196 Veneto pharmacies with at least one administration. The 10,164 vaccinations are divided as follows: 87 in the Ulss 1 Dolomiti; 1,857 in Ulss 2 Marca Trevigiana; 966 in Ulss 3 Serenissima; 36 in Ulss 4 Eastern Veneto; 401 in Ulss 5 Polesana; 2,501 in Ulss 6 Euganea; 382 in Ulss 7 Pedemontana; 1,516 in Ulss 8 Berica; 2,418 in Ulss 9 Scaligera.
THE COMMENT
«The numbers confirm the centrality of Veneto pharmacies in the flu vaccination campaign. The growth of almost 24% in administrations highlights the importance of pharmacies as the first local healthcare facilities available to citizens, who here find trained professionals, familiar environments and the advantage of being able to book an appointment – concludes Andrea Bellon, president of Federfarma Veneto which represents around 1,200 pharmacies -. The extension of the free vaccination in pharmacies for all adults decided by the Veneto Region from 1 January 2026 demonstrates how precious the contribution of colleagues is, once again making themselves immediately available in the face of the urgency of the moment. Given our immediate availability and with a view to offering useful food for thought for increasingly effective planning and organization of future campaigns, it would be useful for the Region and health authorities to plan, through media and social channels, adequate information for the population about the possibility of getting vaccinated at pharmacies. A greater valorisation of the pharmacy channel could in fact have determined significant overall effects for the entire vaccination network already in the current campaign which so far has instead recorded lower-than-expected results. Thanks also to easy and efficient DPC (Distribution on Account) logistics, pharmacies can in fact have the vaccine available within half a day.”
