Ida Ismail
Parents continue to be skeptical and hesitant to vaccinate their children who have turned 1 against measles-rubella, fearing that the vaccine causes autism. At the European Immunization Week, IHP specialist Rovena Daja said that this vaccine has the lowest coverage in the country, compared to other vaccines, as part of the children's vaccination calendar.
"Parents do not receive information from reliable sources and health personnel and link it to autism. The vaccination coverage with the first dose is still at 81-82%, but parents forget that a child who has turned 1 year old no longer has any body from the mother and can be infected with measles and can end up in the hospital and even die. They postpone the vaccine until 15 or 18 months, but not longer, as it is no longer effective," Daja underlined.
One of the main reasons for the hesitation remains the myth of a link between vaccines and autism, a claim debunked by the international scientific community. The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have confirmed that vaccines are safe and effective.
According to the WHO, vaccines have been tested and proven to prevent serious diseases, saving millions of children's lives every year.
Pediatricians emphasize the importance of regular vaccinations as a vital process for protecting children's health against preventable diseases. According to pediatrician Loreta Gjoni, there is no scientific evidence linking vaccines to the occurrence of autism:
"Vaccination is a process for strengthening the child's immune system and protecting against numerous infections. Vaccines must be administered regularly according to the age group. We cannot deprive a child of the right to be healthy. Vaccines were not invented in vain, but are scientifically based and protect children," said Gjoni.
Inaccurate information and the influence of social media are challenging the authority of doctors, while health institutions are trying to raise awareness through public campaigns. The Institute of Public Health has called on parents not to hesitate to vaccinate their children against measles and rubella.
On the other hand, the Institute of Public Health reports a high vaccination coverage of over 98% against Hepatitis B. Meanwhile, an increase in interest in the HPV vaccine is also observed among boys.
"There are over 50 thousand boys and girls who have applied the HPV vaccine. We thought that boys might be a little hesitant, but it turns out that they are going and getting vaccinated," said Rovena Daja.
While the science is clear on the safety of vaccines, the challenge remains to combat misinformation and restore trust among parents. Vaccination is not an individual choice, but a responsibility to protect the health of the little ones.acqj.al
