European Immunization Week kicks off in Kyrgyzstan

Bishkek, April 26, 2021 . / Kabar / . On the initiative of the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, the European Immunization Week (EIW-2021) is taking place in Kyrgyzstan from April 26 to May 2, Minister of Health and Social Development of the republic Alymkadyr Beishenaliev said at a press conference at Kabar News Agency. According to him, the main theme of the initiative in 2021 - "Vaccines bring us closer" is to draw attention to the importance of immunization to prevent disease and protect life. "During 16 years, Kyrgyzstan has been supporting the initiative of the WHO to conduct EIW. Thanks to the planned immunization of the population in the Kyrgyz Republic, such vaccine-preventable infections as diphtheria, tetanus, tuberculosis meningitis in newborns, viral hepatitis "B" are not registered up to 5 years. The country has been polio-free since 1993," said the minister. Beishenaliev added 65 mobile teams across are operating the country, which conduct vaccination against COVID-19 on a voluntary basis. In turn, Head of the WHO Country Office in Kyrgyzstan Nazira Artykova noted the 16th European Immunization Week (EIW) will be held in the WHO Regional Office in Europe from April 26 to May 2, 2021. "The timed events will focus on the contribution of routine vaccination to protecting the health and well-being of people throughout life. Special attention will be given to vaccination against COVID-19 as an essential tool to help us end the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the importance of immunization, and we must make full use of the potential of the vaccines we have at our disposal. Reducing routine immunization due to COVID-19 will have consequences that will be felt long after the pandemic is over," said Artykova. In addition, UNICEF Representative in Kyrgyzstan Christine Jaulmes said that each year, UNICEF supplies over two billion doses of vaccines to reach approximately 45 percent of the children in the world under five years of age. "This annual investment of $1.656 billion in 2019 supports routine immunization programs, prevention campaigns and outbreak response worldwide. In addition, new vaccine technologies are becoming available every day, and today UNICEF procured 25 different vaccines for 100 countries. The COVD-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical role of medical workers. I want to take this opportunity to recognize them and thank them for all the hard work in Kyrgyzstan, especially the leadership the Ministry of Health,” the UNICEF representative said.