site.btaImplementation of Immunization Schedule Stepped Up in 2024 Compared to Previous Years

The Health Ministry has reported an increase in the implementation of the immunization schedule in 2024 compared to previous years. The post on the Ministry's  Facebook page cited data from the National Center for Public Health and Analysis.

The data show that 96.7% of newborns received а tuberculosis vaccine in the first days after birth and 97.6% were vaccinated against hepatitis B. Additionally, 94.2% of infants received the three-dose primary immunization with the 6-in-1 vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type B. Meanwhile, 93.8% were vaccinated against pneumococcal infections.

The immunization coverage for measles, mumps and rubella also increased, according to the Health Ministry. The first dose was administered to 94.2% of children at 13 months of age, while 90.5% of children who turned 12 last year received the second dose.

Vaccines have saved millions of lives. Thanks to them, severe infectious diseases such as diphtheria, polio and tetanus are either nonexistent or rarely diagnosed in Bulgaria and many other countries. The epidemic spread of measles, rubella, mumps and pertussis has also been limited, the Ministry said.

Bulgaria's immunization schedule includes mandatory vaccinations against 11 diseases.