All information about vaccines on one website: EGU.kz website launched

NUR-SULTAN, September 8, 2021 - For the first time in Kazakhstan, a unified official web resource has been launched today to provide all relevant information on childhood vaccines according to the National Vaccination Schedule. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) jointly with the Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Control, National Centre of Public Health Care of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan (NPHC MoH) with the financial support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have developed a website that brings together official information and the results of medical research on routine childhood immunization. For several months, a team of doctors and scientists from MedSupport and UNICEF worked together to select necessary data, to develop the structure, interface and content of the EGU.kz website to make it as user-friendly as possible for parents and anyone interested in the topic of immunization in Kazakhstan. 

The information resource gives access to a detailed description of each vaccine in the National Immunization Schedule. Any visitor can learn about the infections the vaccines protect against and read about contra-indications and possible side effects. With the launch of the website, every Kazakh parent will learn how the myth of autism and the MMR vaccine came about, why there is no mercury in childhood vaccines, and whether the injection site can be cleaned with water and become wet. The parent will see a full list of vaccination myths and reliable information that dispels these myths.

“Vaccination issues are often a source of concern to the general public and the media. The main task of the EGU.kz website is to provide complete and reliable information about vaccines and the organization of vaccination work in the republic. This platform is aimed at an open and honest dialogue of the population with practicing specialists and scientists in the field of vaccination, from which everyone has the opportunity to receive professional and scientifically grounded answers to their questions,” said Aizhan Serikbayevna Esmagambetova, Chairman of the Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Control of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The website is available both in Kazakh and Russian. There is also a version for persons with visual impairment. 

“Vaccination is the only, most effective and no alternative way for parents to protect their children from the serious consequences of infectious diseases. At the EGU.kz website you will get correct, evidence-based, and reasoned information about immunization,” said Ainagul Kuatbayeva, Deputy Chair of the National Centre of Public Health Care of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 

The official resource has headings such as Vaccination Schedule, Vaccination Centres, Vaccines and Diseases, Myths, Questions and Answers. On EGU.kz website, parents will find information about the types of vaccines, learn about all stages of safety checks and get answers to their questions. The website also gives a short excursus into the history of vaccination and describes mankind's first steps towards the victory over a number of vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. In the future, it will be supplemented with current statistics on routine childhood immunization.

"The invention of vaccines is medicine's greatest achievement. It is the most effective and sometimes the only way to protect yourself and your child from terrible diseases that cause irreversible damage to health and sometimes end in death. In the 21st century some parents are still hesitant about the effectiveness and necessity of vaccinating their children. To help make the right and informed choice, UNICEF, together with its partners, has developed a unique site which has not previously existed in Kazakhstan. It is the website where it is easy to find all information about vaccines included the National Vaccination Schedule. I hope that this website will be a useful tool for parents in making the crucial decision about their child's vaccination," noted Arthur van Diesen, UNICEF Representative in Kazakhstan. 

The website has a handy map to help find the vaccination centre closest to the area where you live. To avoid forgetting to receive routine vaccination for their children, parents can use reminder function of the website calendar.

"We are happy to be part of this project. The EGU.KZ website will be an indispensable assistant to parents for a safe and healthy childhood of Kazakhstan's children!" - MedSupport team commented. 

The website has been developed as part of the joint programme of UNICEF Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan to strengthen the immunisation system.

“Immunizations not only save lives, but they enable children, women, and families to thrive. The information shared on this important website will help people protect themselves from the threat of vaccine preventable diseases. As a result, children can stay in school, parents can care for and support their families, and they can contribute to the economic growth of their communities and country;” USAID/Central Asia Acting Mission Director, Peter Young.