site.btaHealth Minister Kondeva Opens National Conference on Vaccine-Preventable Diseases

It is important to increase confidence in vaccines by talking openly about their high efficacy, safety and their huge social importance, said caretaker Health Minister Dr Galya Kondeva on Friday at the start of the Third National Conference on Vaccine Preventable Diseases. The event is organized by the Astra Forum Foundation and is being held at a capital city hotel.

"The Ministry of Health pays special attention to prevention through vaccination from an early age, as the immunization calendar includes more and more infectious diseases for children, vulnerable groups and adults", Kondeva said, noting that for reasons of various kinds, in recent years there is a negative trend in vaccine coverage. "Events such as the Third National Conference on Vaccine-Preventable Diseases will help change attitudes about vaccines", she said, expressing her hope that such events will "change the paradigm".

Sofia Regional Health Inspectorate Director Dr. Dancho Penchev stressed that vaccine-preventable diseases and prevention through vaccination are the core elements of modern health policy and strategy. In his words, the vaccine provides individual protection, but also necessary immunity to prevent an epidemic.

"It is important to talk about vaccines and to be aware of their importance and to resist insinuations against them", said the director of the National Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Prof. Dr. Iva Hristova.