Florije Rashani, Chief Nurse at the Main Family Medicine Center, has dedicated 24 years to vaccinating children in the Pristina region. She recalls the challenges that health professionals faced post-war -- striving to raise vaccination rates, especially in the remote villages. According to her, this was especially challenging during 2003, when she and her colleagues worked tirelessly to vaccinate every child against polio, a disease that causes paralysis in children. In 2017, measles also resurfaced in Kosovo due to a rise in unvaccinated children, prompting intensive efforts to control the outbreak.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the overall trust in vaccines has declined drastically – Florije attributes declining vaccination rates to public doubts fueled by misinformation. The negative narrative around vaccines had had an impact on the routine immunization for children too. Despite all this misinformation and vaccine hesitancy, 73 percent of children in Kosovo have received routine immunization this year although the number of immunized children among Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities remains extremely low with only 38 percent fully immunized children. Throughout the pandemic, USAID, in partnership with UNICEF, have strived to facilitate vaccine access for all - including the most vulnerable community members - and more importantly enhanced awareness, crucial for protecting children from preventable diseases.
With USAID's support, UNICEF has aided Kosovo's health system in recovering from the pandemic, strengthening vaccine cold chains, and promoting routine immunization, particularly among marginalized groups. The commitment of health professionals like Florije remains vital in safeguarding public health and children's well-being.
UNICEF for USAIDKosovo