The European Immunization Week kicks off in Georgia. 24.04.2012
TBILISI, Georgia, 24 April. 2012. The seventh European Immunization Week (EIW) was kicked-off in Georgia today at a press-conference organized by the First Lady of Georgia, Ms Sandra Elisabeth Roelofs and the Deputy Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs, Mr Irakli Giorgobiani. The European Immunization Week is organized by the WHO Regional office for Europe on 21 - 27 April. The Week is an annual event to remind public and health professionals that immunization of every child is vital to prevent diseases and protect life. The goal of European Immunization Week is to increase vaccination coverage by raising awareness of the importance of immunization. The key messages of this year European Immunization Week are that: Front-line health workers are vital to national immunization programmes and have a tremendous impact on the success of these programmes; Controlling ongoing measles outbreaks and preventing further measles cases in the European Region must be a top priority; 2012 marks the 10 year anniversary of the European Region receiving certification of polio-free status. Georgia marks the European Immunization Week by introduction of the vaccination against Rotavirus infection into the National Immunization Calendar starting from 2012 as per the decision of the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs. WHO supported research proof that diarrheal diseases account for the hospitalization of 0-5 aged children. 35 per cent of diarrheal cases are caused by Rota virus infections. The vaccination against Rota Virus infection starts from the second month and should be conducted twice. Timely immunization is crucial for the vaccine efficiency. In accordance with the National Immunization Calendar, the Government provides for free vaccination against 10 diseases: TB, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, poliomyelitis, measles, rubella, mumps, B-hepatitis, and B-type homophiles influenza. *** Contact Information: Ekaterina Jojua, Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs,
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