Immunization

In response to the recent deaths of two newborns due to whooping cough, the Ministry of Health in Bulgaria has implemented measures to curb the spread of the disease. Dr. Galya Kondeva, the Minister of Health, revealed at an extraordinary briefing that the ministry has initiated steps to limit the outbreak's impact.

The National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases in Bulgaria has confirmed the country's first case of measles, sparking concerns about potential outbreaks. The case, originating in Sofia, was identified at the end of last week by the national reference laboratory for measles, mumps, and rubella.

In a concerted effort to bolster public health, Bulgaria's Health Ministry, in collaboration with UNICEF Bulgaria, announces a proactive campaign advocating the advantages of vaccination, the Ministry stated in a press release on Monday.

Against the backdrop of the outbreak of measles in Europe, the Hellenic National Public Health Organization has urged members of the public to check that they are vaccinated against the illness.

As global health authorities sound the alarm over the resurgence of measles worldwide, Bulgaria stands out with a reassuring statistic: no confirmed cases of measles have been reported in the country since the beginning of the year.

The Health Ministry has set up a task force to increase the number of people getting vaccinated against measles, and is preparing an information and vaccination campaign in regions with low inoculation rates, following an outbreak in Romania, and other European countries.

Four regions in Bulgaria have declared a flu epidemic, prompting the implementation of urgent anti-epidemic measures, as announced by the Health Ministry on Friday.

Amid concerns over measles outbreaks in neighboring countries, Bulgaria's Chief State Health Inspector, Angel Kunchev, highlighted the risk of measles spreading due to incomplete vaccination coverage.

"It is dangerous that people do not want to vaccinate their children. We are talking about the mandatory immunization calendar. A few more vaccines should be included, but they should be optional and paid for by public funds. A parent who refuses a free immunization must sign a written responsibility. There are vaccines that Europeans cannot do without."

Over 2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines in Bulgaria will be scrapped. They expired last year. It is possible that the number of vaccines for destruction is even higher, because the health inspections still report unused quantities. In this year, nearly 2 million and 800 thousand doses of vaccines expire, the interest in immunization is weak.