Podgorica, (MINA) – The Pediatric Association of Montenegro has called on decision-makers to consider amending the law to make child vaccination mandatory, due to the low vaccination rates against measles, mumps, and rubella.

The Pediatric Association warned that Montenegro is facing a significant challenge of low vaccination rate, particularly with the MMR vaccine, which has led to measles outbreak in some Montenegrin municipalities.

They recall that only 59.7 percent of preschool children have been vaccinated with the MMR vaccine, while the total number of unvaccinated children aged one to 18 years, who have not received any dose of the MMR vaccine, is 28,000.

They reiterated their position that unvaccinated children should not attend education institutions because they are unprotected, can easily become infected, some may develop serious illness, and as such, pose a risk to others who cannot be vaccinated for valid reasons.

The Association called on decision-makers to seriously consider amending the legal regulations so that vaccination becomes mandatory.