Overview of the Immunization Situation in Albania

Vaccination coverage is one of the most important components which describe the immunization situation in a country. Now days more and more combined vaccines are being used which help the immunization programs to achieve high coverage for more than one antigen. Another reason for coverage improvement is the use of one or two-dose vials for the administration of DTP-HepB-Hib or MMR vaccine, enabling the vaccination of children at any time. In the last three years vaccination coverage with two doses of MMR and three doses of DTP containing vaccines is more than 95 percent or sometimes even 98 percent at national level. The coverage of Hepatitis B vaccine is also high due to its use on 5 in 1 combination. The use of one dose vials has played an important role on sustaining and increasing vaccination coverage. Another component affecting the immunization situation in the country is the influence of parental knowledge for vaccines and vaccination in Albania. Collected data through the use of a questionnaire showed that 6 percent of respondents have had fear and consequently refused vaccination of their children. While 92 percent of parents had the opinion that information about the health benefits or risks of vaccines would be absolutely useful and given to them prior to vaccination from health care workers. 72 percent of the subjects were concerned about the side-effects but this concern hasn’t stopped them to vaccinate their children. 35 percent of the interviewed mothers were still concerned that their child would contract a disease even though he/she had been already vaccinated.