Bishkek, April 22, 2024 / Kabar/. European Immunization Week has started today in Kyrgyzstan and will last till April 28, WHO representative in the Kyrgyz Republic Liviu Vedrasco told at a press conference at Kabar Agency.
He said that this year the week is dedicated to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the WHO Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) and the 30th anniversary of the national immunization program in Kyrgyzstan.
Vedrasco noted that the main goal is to raise public awareness about the importance of immunization as one of the main preventive measures against infectious diseases. It emphasizes the need to ensure equitable and widespread access to vaccines to help everyone live a long, healthy life.
“Kyrgyzstan has made significant progress in vaccinating the population. Together with other countries in the WHO European Region, Kyrgyzstan was certified as a polio-free country in 2002. In recent years, with the support of GAVI, WHO and UNICEF, several new vaccines have been included in the national immunization schedule of Kyrgyzstan: pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in 2016, inactivated polio vaccine in 2018, rotavirus vaccine in 2019 and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in 2022,” he added.
According to him, despite these achievements, refusal to vaccinate remains a fly in the ointment and one of the reasons for the resurgence of measles in the WHO European Region.
“Since the beginning of 2024, 8,029 cases of measles have been registered in Kyrgyzstan. It is important to remember that vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles and other vaccineable diseases. By ensuring equitable access to vaccines and strengthening public confidence in immunization programs, we can protect the health of current and future generations,” said Vedrasco.
He added that European Immunization Week is a regional initiative used to raise awareness of immunization through communication activities as well as immunization of high-risk populations.
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