The president of the Cyprus Paediatric Society, Michalis Anastasiades, expresses the strong concern of the paediatric community about the recurrence of contagious diseases such as measles and whooping cough, through "F", warning that the relaxation in vaccination creates dangerous pockets of the unvaccinated and particularly threatens infants and vulnerable groups of the population.
On the occasion of the Vaccination Week, Mr. Anastasiades underlined, speaking to "F", that "vaccination remains one of the most important achievements of modern medicine, with a decisive contribution to the reduction of child mortality and the elimination of diseases that were once a scourge". He placed particular emphasis on the recent epidemiological data from Europe, which, as he stressed, "leave no room for complacency".
As of February 28, 2026, according to the president of the Cyprus Paediatric Society, 350 cases of measles were recorded, "a number that is a cause for concern in view of the seasonal increase in transmission in the spring months, especially in populations with incomplete vaccination coverage". Even more worrying, he said, "is the picture of whooping cough. In 2025, almost 210,000 cases were recorded in Europe, a number more than eight times higher than in 2023, with infants under one year old and adolescents aged 10 to 14 being the most vulnerable groups."
As Mr. Anastasiades pointed out, "this is a disease that is particularly dangerous for newborns, which is why vaccination during pregnancy is a critical measure of protection from the first days of life." In the same context, he said, "are the data on invasive pneumococcal disease, which returned to higher levels than in 2019, with more than 25,000 cases per year in 2023 and 2024", underlining the importance of pneumococcal vaccination mainly for the elderly and people at increased risk.
The president of the Paediatric Society underlined that "non-vaccination or delay of doses creates a gap in the population, allowing the circulation of old but highly contagious diseases" and added: "There are vulnerable social groups among us, such as refugees, migrants, or mobile populations, who should have an equal opportunity to be vaccinated and protected against infectious diseases", since "the creation of pockets of the unvaccinated favours the reappearance of diseases that were considered under control".
He made special reference to issues of misinformation, pointing out that "in a time of a barrage of fake news, increased vigilance is required from the scientific community and a meaningful dialogue with parents".
In closing, and addressing the parents, Mr. Anastasiades stressed that "vaccination is not just a medical act, it is an act of love and responsibility for the present and future of our children. No child should get sick from a preventable disease."
On the occasion of the vaccination week, the Ministry of Health yesterday released specific data on the vaccination coverage of the population in Cyprus against specific contagious diseases.
>> As far as measles is concerned, vaccination coverage in Cyprus was 97% in 2024.
>> For pneumococcus, the rate reached 78.56% in 2025.
>> For hepatitis A it was at 90.65%.
>> For chickenpox it was at 90.48%.
These percentages, as mentioned at the press conference, are high, however, they demonstrate the need for continuous effort, timely, correct and scientifically documented information to citizens.
The Minister of Health, Neophytos Charalambidis, stressed the importance of prevention, noting that "this week is also an opportunity for dialogue with citizens".
The Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Health, Elizabeth Constantinou, described vaccines as the "cornerstone in the field of Health", saying that "the decision to vaccinate is not only about numbers and statistics but about people, families who are protected, people who belong to vulnerable groups of the population and people who due to various health problems cannot be vaccinated".
