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From 11^th to the 13^th of September 2012 a workshop was held to evaluate the pros and cons of the National Immunization Program in Bulgaria. The event is part of a pilot project of the Ministry of Health (MoH) to evaluate behavioral attitudes to immunization implemented with Vaccine preventable diseases department of the European Office of the World Health Organization (WHO). Among the participants were representatives of the National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Regional health inspectorates (RHI), NHIF, mediators, professional organizations, GPs and primary care pediatricians, NGOs and others. On behalf of Center Amalipe, Momchil Baev participated in the meeting.
On issues of vaccinations, one of the conclusions of the WHO argues that awareness and knowledge plus the availability of vaccines does not necessarily lead to vaccination or in other words, informed parents do not have to be necessary positive about immunizations. The reasons for low immunization coverage are many: lack of opportunity, marginalization, exclusion, low perception of risk, concerns about vaccine safety, alternative understandings of health and others. Attitude towards vaccination is formed by numerous determinants: they provide opportunities, support and motivation, experts from WHO say. For national immunization programs, this means that a universal approach to communication on immunization is not sufficient. Different strategies are needed to position themselves as positive immunization, protecting and caring practice and offer solutions to parents to be successful in this practice. These strategies must be adapted to outreach certain populations.