The funds budgeted for immunizing the population against infectious diseases will increase. The state will allocate over 40 million lei for the purpose during the next three years, which is by about 12 million lei more than at present, Minister of Health Ruxanda Glavanm said in an event centering on the National Immunization Program, IPN reports.
Specialists say the vaccination of the population should remain a mandatory measure, as the legislation provides. Deputy Minister of Health Aliona Serbulenko said vaccination is not only injection, but also a prophylaxis measure. In the long term, it reduces the financial burden caused by the treatment of diseases. This made the authorities in 2016 to resort to international mechanisms for purchasing vaccines, which are more advantageous. Owing to the support of UNICEF, Moldova benefits from high-quality and cheaper vaccines that were prequalified by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Last year the Government approved the fifth National Immunization Program that envisions the vaccination of 95% of the population until 2020.
According to the WHO, 3 million people are annually saved as a result of vaccination worldwide. In Moldova, owing to the national immunization programs implemented during the last few years, poliomyelitis was eliminated. Also, the number of children suffering from viral hepatitis B decreased over 20 times. There are recorded fewer cases of diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus.
