It is important to increase confidence in vaccines by talking openly about their high efficiency, safety and great social importance, declared today the Minister of Health Galya Kondeva at the beginning of the third national conference on vaccine-preventable diseases.

The event is organized by the Astra Forum Foundation and is being held in Sofia, Bulgaria.

"The Ministry of Health pays special attention to prevention through vaccination from a young age, as the immunization calendar includes more and more infectious diseases for children, vulnerable groups and adults", said Kondeva, adding that for various reasons in recent years there has been a negative trend in vaccine coverage.

"Events such as the third national conference on vaccine-preventable diseases will help change attitudes about vaccines," she said, expressing hope that such events will "change the paradigm."

The director of the Sofia Regional Health Inspectorate, Dancho Penchev, emphasized that vaccine-preventable diseases and prevention through vaccination are essential elements of modern health policy and strategy. According to him, the vaccine provides individual protection and immunity to prevent an epidemic.

"It is important to talk about vaccines and to be aware of their importance and to resist insinuations against them," said the director of the National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Iva Hristova. /BTA