Kazakhstan Kicks Off European Immunization Week 2025
Kazakhstan Launches European Immunization Week to Promote Vaccination
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has officially launched its observance of European Immunization Week (EIW), taking place from April 27 to May 3. This year’s theme is "Immunization for All is Humanly Possible," as reported by the Kazakh Health Ministry.
The campaign aims to emphasize the life-saving benefits of vaccination. Thanks to extensive immunization efforts, Kazakhstan has not recorded any cases of polio since 1996 and has seen a complete absence of diphtheria since 2009. Moreover, significant reductions have been noted in other diseases: mumps cases have decreased over 100-fold, hepatitis A by 32 times, hepatitis B by 92 times, and rubella by more than 2,000 times.
Kazakhstan’s national immunization program now protects against a total of 21 infectious diseases. Despite these achievements, a pressing concern has emerged: approximately 75% of measles cases and 87% of whooping cough cases are occurring among children who have missed their routine vaccinations.
In a significant addition to the vaccination calendar, HPV vaccination for girls aged 11-13 was included in 2024. Currently, 133,169 girls have received their first dose, and 21,194 have completed the two-dose schedule.
European Immunization Week is celebrated annually across the WHO European Region to raise awareness about the importance of achieving high and equitable vaccination coverage. This initiative is crucial for preventing outbreaks and safeguarding the health of future generations.
