Health Minister Alexandru Rogobete warned on Monday that Romania's vaccination rate remains "problematic", noting that despite various programs, including the pilot scheme for vaccination in pharmacies, the situation has not improved significantly.
Speaking online at the 'Health Forum I: Prevention, a strategic investment in life, health and development' organised by DC News Media Group, Rogobete said the issue is driven not only by administrative factors, but largely by medical disinformation circulating in the public space. He expressed concern over the spread of false messages on social media that discourage vaccination and promote opinions with no medical basis.
He brought to mind that Romania ranks first in Europe for infant mortality caused by measles.
"The alarm has been raised since long, even in the time when [former] Minister Rafila raised the issue of vaccination and the numbers already looked bad. Unfortunately, they haven't improved much, although various programs have been launched. Like, for example, the pilot program for vaccination in pharmacies, which is now expanding. Beyond administrative measures, what worries me most is the level of medical disinformation circulating on social media. We are still first in Europe by the number of children dying from measles, yet social media is awash with messages that do not encourage vaccination," Rogobete said.
He added that many opinions shared online are "rather personal views" without medical grounding, which discourage people from getting vaccinated.
According to the minister, a key solution is strengthening information campaigns led by healthcare professionals to rebuild trust in vaccination. He also stressed the importance of the doctor - patient relationship, which must be reinforced through clear and continuous communication.
"We need to inform more, better and faster. Disinformation can only be countered with complete, correct and continuous information. I rely heavily on healthcare professionals who interact directly with patients and families, that is where the most accurate and appropriate exchange of information should take place," Rogobete said.
The minister also announced plans to expand HPV vaccination in pharmacies, noting that this model is already used in other European countries. He added that COVID vaccination should be clearly separated from other immunisation programs.
"The COVID vaccine remains a topic of endless debate. Our role is to clearly distinguish COVID vaccination from the rest, because they are not the same," he said.
He also voiced the intention to include new innovative pharmaceutical technologies, including recent vaccines, on the list of subsidized medicines.
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