The Directorate-General for Health (DGS), in collaboration with the Alto Alentejo Local Health Unit (ULS) and the Arronches City Council, organized today, April 23, 2024, the opening ceremony of the European Vaccination Week 2024, under the theme “Vaccines: Protecting Generations”. The event took place at the Convent of Nossa Senhora da Luz, in Arronches.
The ceremony began with a visit to the Health Center in the Santo António neighborhood, where the 2024 Annual Vaccination Report was presented, highlighting the advances made in the last year. This moment was followed by the official opening of work at the Convent of Nossa Senhora da Luz, led by João Crespo, president of the Chamber of Arronches. It also featured interventions from prominent figures in the health sector nationally and in Alto Alentejo, including Joaquim Araújo, president of the Board of Directors of ULS Alto Alentejo, and Rita Sá Machado, general director of Health.
The event also included the presentation of the study “Predictors and Barriers of Vaccination”, conducted by DGS in partnership with the HEI-Lab of Universidade Lusófona, and a round table entitled “Protecting Generations”, which addressed the local implementation of vaccination in health and education sectors.
European Vaccination Week, an initiative of the World Health Organization in Europe (WHO Europe), runs from 21 to 27 April 2024. The objective is to celebrate the successes of vaccination and its ability to protect several generations against preventable diseases, contributing to a fuller and healthier life for everyone.
During this week, the DGS will publish several educational materials to reinforce the importance of keeping the vaccination calendar updated, aiming to mitigate risks and ensure greater individual and collective protection.
Photo: Emilio Moitas
