The vaccination coverage in Bulgaria is higher compared to the average European level, said Prof. Iva Hristova

Vaccination coverage in Bulgaria is higher than the average European level. This was said by Prof. Iva Hristova, director of the National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, during the “Vaccine School”. The “School” is organized by the “Astra Forum” foundation with the assistance of the office of the World Health Organization in Bulgaria and in partnership with the “Patient Portal” online platform. The initiative marks the European Immunization Week (April 24-30) and the 50th anniversary of the WHO Expanded Program on Immunization.

Vaccination coverage in Bulgaria is very high, much better than our neighboring countries, she also pointed out. According to her, after the introduction of vaccination against measles and rubella, a drastic drop in cases was reported. Over the years, immunization coverage has been over 90%, being higher with the first dose of immunization, Prof. Hristova added. Vaccination coverage against poliomyelitis and diphtheria is over 92%, the doctor added.

It is important to communicate sensibly with society – calmly and with evidence, so that people do not feel pressured, and we can dispel their doubts step by step, Prof. Hristova also said.

Prof. Hristova and Prof. Mira Kozhuharova, an epidemiologist, united around the idea of ​​the need for a change in the training programs of medical students, since the subject of vaccines is not represented enough.

The new challenges of vaccine prevention are the crisis situations in which we live – economic, social, political, climatic, etc., which make possible the development of new epidemics, added Prof. Hristova. Our new tasks are strengthening supervision, improving vaccination coverage and improving communication with the population, strengthening control over the vaccination process using the information environment and new technologies, Prof. Hristova added.

People couldn’t understand how the covid vaccines were made, and it happened because we couldn’t explain it to them, said Prof. Kojuharova. In the huge percentage of cases, the shortcomings should be sought in medical and general education, commented Prof. Kozhuharova on the subject of doctors who are opposed to vaccines.

In 1550, there were the first reports of vaccination, and it is assumed that even before that people tried to protect themselves from the deadly smallpox, Prof. Kojuharova also said. In the 18th and 19th centuries, there were serious successes – vaccines against cholera, rabies, typhoid and plague were created. The first rabies vaccine saved a 9-year-old boy bitten by a dog. In the 20th century, many vaccines were created, a large part of them – very effective, and in the 21st century, new vaccines were developed and the existing ones were improved – against the human papilloma virus, against hepatitis B, against COVID-19, Prof. Kojuharova also pointed out. Vaccinations are now available against nearly 30 diseases, she added.