During the COVID-19 pandemic occurred alarming global decline in vaccination rates resulting in an urgent need to fill the vaccination gaps created by any missed doses and ensure equal access to vaccination.
In addition, Europe’s health armor received serious blows such as the recent increase in measles cases, as more than 58,000 cases were recorded in 41/53 countries of the WHO European region in the year 2023. As EODY reports, on the occasion of World Immunization Week, continuous care is required for the implementation of vaccination programs with the aim of achieving high vaccination coverage (≥95% with two doses of the measles vaccine) and with an emphasis on the vaccination of vulnerable population groups, such as the Roma, refugees/immigrants, etc.
A saving measure
Immunization saves millions of lives each year and is an important public good. From infancy to adulthood, vaccination protects against infectious diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, measles, rubella, mumps, chickenpox and shingles, meningococcal and pneumococcal infections, hepatitis A and B, influenza, rotavirus gastroenteritis and human papillomavirus (HPV) infections.
For most vaccine-preventable diseases, more than one dose of vaccine is needed to achieve and maintain optimal protection. Each dose is timed in the vaccination schedule in order to establish or maintain protection. Missing or delaying any dose increases the risk of disease as it lowers herd immunity in the population.
Vaccinations are a key measure to safeguard Public Health. Greece has one of the most modern and up-to-date vaccination programs for the coverage of children, adolescents and adults, pregnant women and workers in healthcare facilities. Vaccines are provided free of charge and are carried out in accordance with the National Child/Adolescent/Adult Immunization Program as formulated by the National Immunization Committee.
The actions of EODY
In the context of its strategic objectives for the protection of public health, EODY seeks to increase vaccination coverage of the population, prevent the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases and minimize the impact of communicable diseases on society.
In this direction, EODY:
- cooperates with IDIKA (Electronic Governance of Social Security) in order to record the vaccination coverage of the population for all vaccines, which are included in the National Immunization Program
- plans seroepidemiological studies to accurately capture the immunity of our country’s population in all age groups
- formulates targeted actions to spread vaccinations as means of prevention and to deal with the phenomenon of hesitancy towards vaccinations. Properly informing citizens about vaccination and forming correct perceptions about the usefulness of vaccines is a matter of priority
- carries out intervention programs by carrying out vaccinations in areas that have been affected by extreme weather phenomena, such as recently in the region of Thessaly, as well as in vulnerable populations throughout the territory (Roma, immigrants, etc.), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the local government. After the completion of the vaccinations in the prefectures of Achaia, Ilia and Aitoloakarnania, the levels of the EODY are already carrying out vaccinations in the prefecture of Attica, while from the beginning of May intervention will be implemented in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. To date, more than 600 children aged 1-14 have been vaccinated with the measles vaccine
