The new specialized website Plus Men provides detailed information regarding immunizations in Bulgaria. It was created by the team of Information Services, commissioned by the Ministry of Health (MH), and was presented during “Vaccines and Vaccination" seminar for journalists.
"In Bulgarian society, there are five clusters in attitudes towards vaccines. Some 25% are strong supporters of vaccines, some 20% are skeptics who can be influenced through targeted messages, and only some 12% are firm anti-vaxxers," stated Deputy Minister of Health Assoc. Prof. Mihail Okoliyski.
"The Bulgarian anti-vaxxer, with 15% representation, makes noise as if they are 115%. Unfortunately, our weapon to fight this is not science. The decision to get vaccinated is emotional, not rational. People need to understand that vaccination is for their wellbeing – once they realize this, they will do it," said Chief State Health Inspector Assoc. Prof. Angel Kunchev.
For the aim of the new Ministry of Health website, the Plus Men platform https://plusmen.bg/ has been used, which was launched during the pandemic to provide information about COVID-19 vaccines. The updated website presents data on mandatory and recommended immunizations, each of the diseases targeted by the vaccines, as well as the National Vaccination Programs implemented in Bulgaria. The site provides answers to the most frequently asked questions and debunks the most common myths related to vaccines.
At the seminar, a UNICEF study commissioned by the Ministry of Health entitled "Attitudes towards the implementation of the Bulgarian immunization calendar for children" was also presented. According to the results, 61% of parents of children up to 4 years old support mandatory vaccines and would administer all and even additional vaccines. Regarding general practitioners, 83.7% agree that the vaccines in the immunization calendar for children aged 0 to 6 should remain mandatory.
During the seminar, Dr. Kremena Parmakova from the Directorate of Public Health and Health Control at the Ministry of Health announced that the administration of the new vaccine, Gardasil 9, under the National Cervical Cancer Prevention Programme has already begun. Thus, girls aged 10 to 13 years and 11 months can receive a free vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV). Two doses are required to build effective protection. Until now, the programme provided free Gardasil vaccines. "Every third woman in Bulgaria between the ages of 14 and 55 is a carrier of HPV infection," noted Dr. Parmakova, adding that vaccination is the most reliable way to prevent human papillomavirus.
The administration of the new adapted vaccine against XBB subvariant of COVID-19 will begin on Wednesday (September 27), was also announced at the forum. 80,000 doses have already been distributed to the Regional Health Inspections. The vaccines are intended for individuals over 12 years old, and next week, vaccines for children between 6 months and 11 years old are expected to be delivered.
Dr. Radosveta Filipova from the Directorate of Public Health and Health Control at the Ministry of Health stated that under the National Programme for Improving Vaccination Prevention of Seasonal Influenza and Pneumococcal Infections in persons aged 65 and over, funding for 370,544 flu vaccines has been secured this year. Over the next three years, the number will gradually increase, with the goal of achieving 35% coverage of the target group by 2026.