Skopje, 12 March 2024 (MIA) - Almost 50 percent of children in kindergartens in Skopje have not been vaccinated against pertussis with the DTaP vaccine, whereas over 95 percent of children are vaccinated in other cities across the country, the head of the State Sanitary and Health Inspectorate, Renata Mladenovska, said Tuesday. 

She noted that the State Sanitary and Health Inspectorate's inspections are also carried out in private kindergartens and day care centers.  

The fact that about 50 percent of children have not been vaccinated or have not been fully vaccinated is devastating, Mladenovska said. The data are from lists submitted to the State Sanitary and Health Inspectorate from the kindergartens, and inspections will continue.

The State Sanitary and Health Inspectorate ramped up its inspections as of Monday in order to determine the real situation in kindergartens regarding the vaccination status of the children. Children who have not been vaccinated against pertussis with the DTaP vaccine are issued a ban from the day care centers. 

Photo: MIA