,,Since August 5, officially I stopped my work at the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health,,: Gayane Sahakyan

Dear friends
I would like to inform you that since August 5, officially I stopped my work at the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health, where I coordinated several areas (human resources, archiving, immunization, etc.). Immunization was particularly important to me, because back in August 2006, on the nomination of the head of the State Hygienic and Anti-epidemic Inspectorate, Mr. #Artavazd Vanyan, and by the order of the Minister of Health, Mr. Norayr Davidyan, I was appointed the National Immunization Program Manager and received a special assignment to improve the immunization program and vaccination coverage in the country. Why? In 2005, as a result of a survey of demographic and health issues in Armenia, it was found that only 60 percent of children had received their age-appropriate vaccinations, and in 2006, according to a survey conducted by the United Nations Children's Fund, this figure had further decreased to about 46 percent.
Thanks to long and hard teamwork, especially during the first two years working even on Saturdays and Sundays, the result was already visible in the demographic and health surveys conducted in 2010 and 2015, respectively 80 percent and 89 percent. Currently, as of August 1, 2024, at least 92 percent of children have fully received all age-related immunizations.
As the National Immunization Program Manager, I am extremely grateful to my direct supervisor, Mr. Artavazd Vanyan, who trusted my abilities and skills, and always supported me during my 18 years of work in developing policies, legal framework, introducing and implementing new strategies to improve immunization. First of all, I should mention the implementation of measles and rubella mass supplementary vaccination campaign in 2007, under the direct leadership of the Minister of Health Mr. Harutyun Kushkyan, as a result of which no local circulation of measles and rubella viruses was recorded in Armenia until 2023. Next was the introduction of a centralized distribution of vaccines in special refrigerated vehicles, back in 2010, which excluded the transportation of vaccines by taxis or private cars, excluding the dealing of personal affairs with vaccine transportation, and, therefore, the risk of damaging the quality of vaccines. A number of vaccines have been introduced supporting the significant deacrease of child mortality: hemophilus B (pentavalent), rotavirus, pneumococcal. The introduction of rotavirus vaccinations is noteworthy: in a very short period of time, infant mortality decreased dramatically. For the sake of sincerity, I should mention that a result in line with Armenia, was recorded in all countries that introduced rotavirus vaccinations. I cannot fail to mention the efforts of the Minister of Health, Mr. Armen Muradyan, to continuously consider the immunization agenda and to encourage the transition from live oral polio vaccine to inactivated, thanks to which the risk of vaccine-associated polio was eliminated.
The significant success was the transition from pentavalent vaccine to hexavalent vaccine (acellular pertussis) since 2018, thanks to the quick orientation of the Minister of Health, Mr. Arsen Torosyan, and strong political commitment through a dramatic increase in the vaccine budget. With this step, an indescribable result was secured for our country։ it was possible to increase the vaccination coverage of children under one year of age to 92-94 percent, because post-vaccination reactions and therefore vaccine refusals were reduced. At the same time,our parents liked hexavalent vaccine very much, preferring private medical organizations at very expensive prices. Most importantly, the start of the Covid pandemic coincided with the end of the introduction of the hexavalent, as a result of which we managed to maintain our vaccination rates, while in many countries vaccination rates dropped by up to 30 percent and are still struggling to return to 2019 rates.
Of course, I cannot fail to mention the contribution of Mr. Ara Babloyan, his constant willingness to support the development and establishment of immunization in our country. Mr. Babloyan's profound statement has always accompanied me throughout my working career.
Can list too many, but I'm saving your time
I would only note with great happiness that today Armenia's national immunization program is one of the successful and exemplary programs in the WHO European Region.
I express my deep gratitude to my team who worked with me during these 18 years, for working overtime and in extreme cases, to the medical staff of all ambulatory-polyclinic institutions for their great dedication and carrying all the burden as pioneers, to my journalist colleagues for always ready, unbiased information on immunization.
Special thanks to my international partners: WHO, UNICEF, GAVI, FIDEC, CDC, TFGH, ECDC, USAID, UNFPA, MSF, IRC for the continuous cooperation and support to the National Immunization Program.