FB&H Assistant Minister of Health Goran Čerkez, at an online press conference of representatives of the Public Health Institute of the Federation of B&H, the FB&H Ministry of Health, UNICEF and the WHO in B&H on the occasion of European Immunization Week 2021, said that immunization saves millions of lives every year, and that vaccination is recognized as the most successful health intervention.

-It is important to say that measles and many other infectious diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough can be effectively prevented. All that is needed is timely vaccination, according to the recommended calendar. Also, this year we are all witnessing the COVID 19 pandemic and the most effective remedy is again the vaccine. We are also fighting against those who are against vaccination- said Čerkez.

He states that health professionals carry a heavy burden to keep vaccination at the level it has been so far, but that the current situation in B&H raises concerns "because the drop in compulsory immunization warns us of potential dangers that may occur during or after COVID, especially the moment when children return to kindergartens and schools. "

-So we have to act today. The Crisis Staff of the FB&H, among other things, today adopted a very important measure - to make an audit plan urgently, and that all health records must be reviewed and make an immunization plan for children who have not received some of the vaccine doses. We believe that this is very important, deadlines have been given for making a plan for which all pediatric services will have a period of 30 days to start activities of implementing this action plan- said Čerkez.