MEASLES AND RUBELLA IN ARMENIA TO BE LIQUIDATED BY 2010

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 16 2007

YEREVAN, April 16. /ARKA/. Measles and rubella in Armenia are planned
to have been liquidated by 2010, said head of national immunization
program of the RA Health Ministry Gayane Sahakyan.

She said that for this purpose the National program of measles and
rubella liquidation program is elaborated in Armenia, within which
extra injections against these infective diseases will be given
in 2007.

"The analysis of the previous infective episode showed that the
disease was widespread in 1-27 age groups because of insufficient
immune level. In connection with this the decision to vaccinate these
population groups was made," Sahakyan said.

She said that the age group up to six is included in the planned
vaccination, and in the 6-27 age groups extra vaccination will
be given.

She pointed out that the vaccines imported to Armenia of good quality
and correspond to WHO certification.

"Armenia is insured against low-quality vaccination, moreover, during
the recent years no lethal outcome because of vaccination has been
recorded in the country," she said.

The national strategy against measles and rubella liquidation for
2007-2010 is implemented in Armenia, as well as with the aim of
controlling parotitis and congenital rubella syndrome. The vaccination
is conducted within WHO, UNICEF, "Immunization of Armenian Children
of Millennium" Program and Vishnevskaya-Rostropovich Fund.