Owing to immunization, Moldova has witnessed no case of poliomyelitis during 22 years and no case of diphtheria and only three cases of tetanus during 10 years. The data were presented by UNICEF in a news conference held on the occasion of the European Immunization Week, IPN reports.
UNICEF Representative in Moldova Nune Mangasaryan said the current immunization programs are much better than those that existed 10 years ago and this is due to the development partners. Each child must have access to immunization and health programs so that no child remains unvaccinated. Though over 90% of the kids aged between 1 and 2 in Moldova have been immunized, UNICEF wants all the children who can be vaccinated to benefit from this right so as to prevent the appearance of infectious diseases.
Nune Mangasaryan also said that according to the data of the World Health Organization and UNICEF, over 1 million children die globally from infectious diseases as a result of the decreasing immunization level. The world organizations that help Moldova implement immunization programs do not want this problem to affect Moldova too. It is very important to correctly inform the parents about the method and necessity of vaccination and about the possible reactions in the post-vaccination period.
Deputy Minister of Health Svetlana Cotelea said that owing to the immunization programs, significant results were achieved in preventing 12 transmissible diseases that can be prevented by vaccination. Thus, whooping cough morbidity was reduced about 80 times, while viral hepatitis B morbidity – 40 times. However, the success achieved in preventing diseases makes the parents believe that three is no risk of catching infectious diseases. As a result, an increasing number of parents refuse to vaccinate their children.
According to the data obtained in 2012 by the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization and UNICEF, only 8 in 10 children in urban areas were vaccinated, as against 9 in 10 children in rural areas. Svetlana Cotelea explained that the reform aimed at strengthening primary medical assistance was initiated in rural areas and the family doctors there were particularly trained in the area of immunization.
The WHO Representative and Head of Country Office in Moldova Jarno Habicht said the preliminary data show that owing to the vaccinations against infectious diseases in 2013-2014, the number of hospitalized children fell by 20%. Currently, Moldova is financially supported by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, but these funds will be used up in 2018 and the country must thus identify solutions to ensure continuity of the immunization process.
On April 20-25, the National Public Health Center is holding the Open Doors Days for the visitors to see that the vaccines are safe and of a high quality.
