Those willing to get flu shots by paying for them can do this only in five private immunization centers in Chisinau and two others elsewhere in the country, Info-Prim Neo learned from epidemiologist Leonid Savca of the National Public Health Center. Flu vaccines cannot be bought in drugstores, as they require special storage conditions and special transportation from manufacturers to the destination. The shots are administered to children from 6 months to 3 years of age in doses of 0.25 milliliters, and to older children and adults in doses of 0.5 milliliters. The shots should be repeated every year, said the doctor. Contacted by Info-Prim Neo, a number of immunization centers said the shot is available for 200 lei a regular dose. Earlier the National Health Insurance Company bought 100,000 flu shots with a view to preventing a seasonal epidemic. The shots will be administered for free to groups deemed at a higher risk of catching the disease, including health professionals, customs officers, institutionalized children and elderly people. The vaccine was bought from a French manufacturer for 49 lei a 0.5ml dose.