The Ministry of Health will provide free pertussis vaccines to all pregnant women from the 27th to the 36th week of pregnancy.
This was announced by the official minister, Dr. Galya Kondeva. She specified that the opportunity will be given to all expectant mothers who want to be immunized, regardless of whether they have health insurance or not. Vaccination will take place in separate immunization points, added the state health inspector Assoc. Angel Kunchev.
“We are also working to provide much more comprehensive diagnostics. We will add Burgas to the four centers in Varna, Plovdiv, Stara Zagora and Pleven, as there is an opportunity there. In these places, free PCR diagnostics will be done according to several criteria – first case, severe cases, cases in organized collectives, etc. This will lead to a reduction in risk,” added the specialist.
An update to the immunization calendar is also planned to allow the basic routine vaccination against pertussis and diphtheria to start earlier than the baby’s sixth week.
So far, the registered cases of whooping cough in our country are over 500 compared to only 4 for the same period last year. This shows a clear epidemic spread of the disease, commented Dr. Kondeva. Over 90% of cases are children. The risk group of complications and hospitalization are children under 1 year. 84% of them are not immunized due to underage or other reasons.
Earlier today, in a television interview, Associate Professor Angel Kunchev stated that an emergency epidemic situation will not be declared.
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