European Immunisation Week is an initiative of the European Region of the World Health Organization that takes place every year in the last week of April.
For more than two centuries, vaccines have prevented disease and saved millions of lives. They have eliminated smallpox and enabled the control of deadly diseases like polio. The history of vaccination is one of the most successful stories of public health interventions, with a long track record of effectiveness.
In the context of the European Immunisation Agenda 2030 and the alarming global decline in vaccination rates due to pandemic COVID-19, this year's campaign focuses on improving vaccination coverage and in particular the need for children to catch up on any missed or delayed doses. This year, the WHO European Region decided to celebrate European Immunization Week (23-29 April) with the theme "The Big Catch-Up post-pandemic". The awareness campaign focuses on three general messages: the "Every vaccine dose counts" "Time matters", and the last one "Have a conversation about vaccination."
The first message is that "Every dose counts" to protect you and those you love. Vaccines protect everyone: children, teens, adults and seniors. Protect yourself, your family and your community by getting vaccinated. World Health Organization data shows that since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 1.2 million children in the European Region have missed vaccinations to protect them from measles, mumps and rubella - the MMR vaccine. It is stressed that measles is particularly dangerous for young children and cases are increasing in the WHO European Region.
The second message is that "Timing of vaccination matters". Implementation of the National Immunisation Programme is now more important than ever. When systematic vaccination is not implemented, the risk of epidemics increases and countries need to fill the gaps created in basic vaccination. Each dose in the vaccination programme is timed to establish or maintain protection. Therefore "vaccination timing" matters, so vaccinations should be given on time and any missed doses should be covered as soon as possible.
The third and final message is "Have a conversation about vaccination". Sharing information about vaccinations helps understanding and increases motivation to follow recommendations and national vaccine schedules. All parents want the best for their children and many have questions or concerns about vaccination. The Children's Personal Physician within the GHS, as well as the Health Visitors at the Ministry's Maternity and Child Welfare Centres and Vaccination Centres are there to help, to discuss vaccination to address any concerns.
The Chair and Members of the Ministry of Health's National Advisory Committee on Vaccination on the occasion of European Vaccination Week 23-29 April 2023, want to highlight the important protection that vaccination offers to all ages of the population and across society. Vaccination is the foundation of the Primary Health Care system and the National Vaccination Programme of the Ministry of Health is applied free of charge to the entire population of the Republic of Cyprus.
(DK)
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