On the eve of the 60th anniversary of the National Vaccination Program, the former director of Pediatrics at Hospital Dona Estefânia in Lisbon—where he worked for nearly four decades—highlighted in an interview the importance of vaccines and warned against the dangers of misinformation and anti-vaccine movements.
The specialist stated that anti-vaccination rhetoric, sometimes led by political leaders, is “voiced by people who have not experienced seeing sick children.”
“It’s the least I can say,” he remarked, emphasizing that measles outbreaks in places such as the southern United States should “already be enough to open their eyes.”
Gonçalo Cordeiro Ferreira attributed this kind of rhetoric partially to “a blindness due to being in a comfortable place where these diseases don’t reach them or their close ones,” and also to a politico-philosophical issue that isn’t exclusive to the United States.
“There are countries very resistant to the use of vaccines, such as the Eastern European countries that were under Soviet influence,” he noted, explaining that in those contexts, vaccines are seen as “a state imposition.”
“They don’t understand the goodness of the vaccine,” viewing it as “an attack on their freedom,” which he described as a mistake: “This is the good weight of state organization, which is disease prevention through a very safe tool—vaccines,” he emphasized.
The pediatrician pointed out that “fortunately, in Portugal,” vaccine hesitancy is minor, with “great acceptance” of the National Vaccination Program, especially during awareness campaigns.
“In Portugal, there’s a lot of common sense from parents,” he reiterated, adding that even the immigrant community arriving in the country adheres to the vaccination program, which he attributes to the work done by health centers.
According to the 2024 annual report of the National Vaccination Program, Portugal remains an international benchmark in vaccination, with 98% to 99% of children vaccinated in the first year of life, as well as vaccination coverage up to six years, generally reaching or exceeding the 95% target.
The specialist recalled that in the past, situations such as a cold or being one day shy of the recommended age were reasons to postpone vaccination.
“Nowadays, that no longer happens. Professionals are, indeed, much better informed, in nursing and health centers, and they use the opportunity to vaccinate people when they are present,” he highlighted.
Cordeiro Ferreira expressed regret that some professionals “shot themselves in the foot,” as happened during the COVID-19 pandemic, when some doctors publicly questioned vaccine safety, which he deemed “dangerous” as it indirectly undermines the credibility of other vaccines.
“But families know the importance of vaccines,” he assured.
The doctor also highlighted advances in vaccine administration, such as the use of combination vaccines (hexavalent), which reduce the number of injections.
“Everything is evolving to be more convenient, both for those administering and receiving the vaccine.”
