Skopje, 25 March 2024 (MIA) — The Ministry of Health signed Monday a declaration with the Medical, Pharmaceutical and Dental Chambers, the Public Health Institute, and the country's Faculties of Medicine to promote vaccination nationwide.

"Vaccination is humanity's greatest achievement," Medical Chamber president Kalina Grivcheva Stardelova said at the meeting. "Unfortunately, according to 2022 data on primary and booster vaccination at the national level, the recommended coverage of over 95 percent has not been achieved." 

"The registered coverage is below 90 percent for all vaccines," she continued. "As a consequence, we are now facing an epidemic of whooping cough and we are at a serious risk of facing new smallpox epidemics as well."

According to Grivcheva Stardelova, doctors understand parents who have come across unreliable and inaccurate information related to vaccines, especially on social networks, which causes them to fear, refuse, or delay vaccinating their children.

"We, as the most relevant source of information, should reassure parents that regular vaccination is necessary to keep children in good health," she said, adding that vaccines were safe and reliable.

According to her, there should be no doubts as to whether children should be regularly vaccinated. She said the declaration was also aimed at sending a message to parents about the importance of vaccines.

Health Minister Ilir Demiri said that public awareness had to be raised so as to achieve optimal vaccination. mr/