"Regarding measles, we have high national coverage rates. We currently have 20 confirmed cases of measles in Portugal", Rita Sá Machado told reporters, on the sidelines of a ceremony in Arronches, in the district of Portalegre.

"We need to act so that people continue to get vaccinated and get vaccinated in a timely manner. If it is to vaccinate at one year of age, we should not vaccinate at one year and three months", she warned.

The Director-General of Health also advised that those who have not been vaccinated against this disease or have only received one dose of the vaccine to confirm this situation in their vaccination record.

"Look at the bulletins and see, according to the year of birth, if you have two doses of vaccine or only one dose", she stressed, stating that "these are the measures that, as citizens", should be adopted, with the DGS being responsible for taking others.

Today, in Arronches, Rita Sá Machado participated in an initiative promoted by the DGS as part of the program of activities of the European Immunization Week 2024, in which a study with figures on vaccination in Portugal in 2023 was presented.

In statements to journalists, the Director-General of Health highlighted that "Portugal continues to have high vaccination coverage rates", within the scope of the coverage of the national vaccination program, which ranges from pregnant women and babies to adulthood.

Regarding childhood, Rita Sá Machado stated that the coverage rates are "really high", amounting to "over 95% and, often, between 98% and 99%".

"During adulthood, we have already dropped a little more, which is natural, which is expected, even at an international level", she added.

Still regarding the data on vaccination last year in Portugal, the Director-General of Health considered it important to look at changes at a regional level.

"We note that there are also some a little higher, some a little lower", and it is "important" to make "this differentiation" and understand "why this is or is not happening", she argued.

Also questioned by journalists about whether there is a lack of vaccines in the country, Rita Sá Machado stated that "there is no break in vaccine 'stock'".

"Since the beginning of the year, we have been monitoring the reorganization of the National Health Service, where many of the issues associated with vaccines have passed to the local health units (ULS)", she said.

Rita Sá Machado considered that the appearance of disturbances "was to be expected" and said that the situation is being monitored with the executive board of the National Health Service "to try to minimize the impacts on the population".

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