Nicolae Furtună: Family doctors key to boosting trust in vaccination
Vaccination is the most effective method of disease prevention; however, the Republic of Moldova is experiencing immunization rates that fall below the recommended levels. This decline increases the risk of diseases such as measles and whooping cough making a comeback, said Nicolae Furtună, the head of the National Agency for Public Health (ANSP), during the "Bună Dimineața" show on Moldova 1. He emphasized the importance of vaccination for individuals of all ages.
According to Nicolae Furtună, recent experiences have demonstrated that the absence of preventive interventions leads to significant public health issues. He stated, "We have convinced ourselves over the years that without interventions, it is not possible to ensure public health principles."
The ANSP representative highlighted measles outbreaks in 2024-2025, the rise in whooping cough cases in 2023-2024, as well as cases of influenza, COVID-19, and mumps. He noted that all of these infections can be managed through immunization.
This year, the campaign emphasizes the importance of vaccinating all age groups, not just children. "Everyone from young to old needs intervention to protect them from certain diseases," mentioned Nicolae Furtună.
Regarding the current situation, the official pointed out that the Republic of Moldova is failing to meet the objectives of the National Immunization Program, which sets a coverage rate of 95%. "Unfortunately, our vaccination coverage rate only reflects the target for BCG vaccination against tuberculosis in newborns. Otherwise, we are falling below 80%, between 80% and 85%," he explained.
He warned that the low vaccination rate hinders effective control of communicable diseases and has already contributed to the resurgence of certain outbreaks.
Nicolae Furtună also addressed the reasons behind vaccination reluctance, mentioning the influence of misinformation on social media, the impact of certain marginalized communities, and the availability of accurate information. A 2024 study revealed that approximately 4,000 children in the Republic of Moldova had not received a single dose of any vaccine, with the total number of unvaccinated children over the past five years estimated to be around 23,000.
"This is the ideal environment for the emergence of infections," the specialist cautioned.
Furtună emphasized that there is a direct correlation between vaccination rates and the incidence of diseases. "The lower the level of vaccination coverage, the higher the risk of infections occurring," he stated.
In this context, he underscored the critical role of family doctors in boosting public confidence in immunization. "They are the key to immunizations," Furtună explained, noting that family doctors are primarily responsible for recommending vaccinations, conducting pre-vaccination evaluations, and overseeing post-vaccination monitoring.
Finally, the ANSP representative urged parents and the general population to heed the recommendations of specialists. "Vaccines have proven to save lives. Vaccines have demonstrated their ability to improve the quality of life," declared Nicolae Furtună.
