For the well-being of the epidemiological situation in Kazakhstan and the protection of children's health, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenev has signed a resolution to allocate funds for the purchase of additional volumes of vaccines and medical supplies.
From the government's reserve, 5,832,377,600 (five billion eight hundred thirty-two million three hundred seventy-seven thousand six hundred) tenge is allocated for the immunization of children under 18 years old who have previously missed vaccination within the National Vaccination Calendar, according to the Prime Minister's press service.
As a result of the analysis conducted by the Ministry of Health in Kazakhstan, more than 800,000 unvaccinated children have been identified nationwide. Catch-up immunization will be carried out against dangerous infectious diseases such as pertussis, diphtheria, viral hepatitis A and B, measles, rubella, tetanus, poliomyelitis, mumps, and Haemophilus influenzae infection.
The funds will be directed to the akimats of regions, cities of republican significance, and the capital in the form of targeted current transfers for the purchase of 747,720 vaccine doses and 542,592 syringes. However, in the East Kazakhstan region, catch-up vaccination of children is planned to be carried out using existing drug supplies.
According to the Ministry of Health, the epidemiological situation regarding measles in Kazakhstan is stabilizing. Over the past two months, the incidence rate has decreased by 32%. Approximately 1.3 million people have been vaccinated during the additional mass immunization, with a coverage rate of 91% of the population eligible for vaccination.
However, there is an increase in the incidence of other vaccine-preventable infections. For instance, in 2023, a negative trend was observed in pertussis, with 91% of the affected individuals being unvaccinated children. An increase in cases has also been noted for rubella, epidemic mumps, and viral hepatitis A.
To prevent the increase in incidence of dangerous infections among the population, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenev has instructed the Ministry of Health and akimats to take special control over the timely implementation of immunization and the epidemiological situation in each region.
At the end of April, approximately 16 billion tenge was allocated by the government for the modernization of heat sources in Kentau, Ridder, and Kyzylorda.
