In the warehouse of the Ministry of Health (MoH) there is enough pertussis vaccines for children aged two months to two yearswho are most vulnerable to the disease – this became clear from the hearing of the Acting Minister of Health, Dr. Galya Kondeva, during the extraordinary meeting of the parliamentary committee on health.
Kondeva informed that by the end of this week there is a possibility to import another 2000 doses, with a total of 650 currently available.
Until Monday, we have a good immunization coverage for whooping cough – 92.4% in the last year, added the healthy acting minister, quoted by BTA. In the event of an epidemic she said that immunization can start from the age of one and a half months of the babies.
Kondeva recalled that according to the immunization calendar total children receive six doses of pertussis vaccine during his life. No reimmunization is included for adultsshe emphasized.
Kondeva said that if necessary, the Ministry of Health can provide funds to purchase additional quantities vaccines against whooping cough.
The Minister of Health once again reiterated that the Ministry of Health is constantly monitoring the disease. Since the beginning of the year, a total of 314 positive cases of whooping cough have been registered, and the disease puts newborns at risk in the first year of their birth.
The spread is the greatest in the city of Sofia – 214 cases. No cases were reported in 11 districtsstressed Kondeva.
As for what the Ministry of Health has done so far, the Acting Minister recalled that letters of reference were sent to the regional health inspectorates, the Bulgarian Medical Union already at the beginning of April, stating that inall GPs should examine persons subject to immunization.
The minister emphasized that they are diagnostic tests providedin the Metropolitan Regional Health Inspection, as well as in the Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases and have been introduced criteria for what cases to do the diagnosis.
Galya Kondeva noted that they are insured additional funds for the purchase of laboratory diagnostics for the next month, work is also being done to create conditions for carrying out the diagnostics. We analyze daily what the trends are, what the distribution is, assured the official minister.
She also said that the Ministry of Health is in constant contact with the Ministry of Education to ensure the protection of students and the opportunity don’t panic. Kondeva drew attention to the fact that anyone sick with whooping cough must be subject to home isolation for no more than 30 days. Those not sick and not immunized are placed under medical supervision for up to 14 daysaccording to Ordinance No. 6 of 2019.
According to this ordinance when pertussis occurs in a nurserythe affected individuals are placed under surveillance for up to 14 days, with the affected group being quarantined for the same period.
Ministry of Health expects the expert council to come up with an opinion on vaccination against pertussis of pregnant women.
Tags: Minister Kondeva vaccines whooping cough babies children years
