Cyprus health officials discuss vaccination coverage and migrant health risks

During European Immunisation Week, the Cyprus Health Ministry reported high vaccination coverage rates, including 97% for measles in 2024. Data for 2025 indicated pneumococcal coverage at 78.56%, hepatitis A at 90.65%, and chickenpox at 90.48%. Michalis Anastasiades, President of the Cyprus Paediatric Society, highlighted the potential public health risks posed by under-vaccinated migrant and refugee populations. He cited rising infectious disease cases across Europe, specifically hundreds of measles cases and tens of thousands of whooping cough cases from the previous year. Both health officials and the Paediatric Society emphasized the necessity of providing equal vaccine access to migrants and refugees. The Ministry stressed that population mobility from countries with low vaccination rates requires sustained public health efforts. Health Minister Neofytos Charalambidis noted that prevention remains a priority for the government. Authorities underscored the importance of timely and scientifically grounded information for all residents.