Health Service officials are becoming increasingly concerned by the rise in the number of parents in Cyprus who are refusing to get their children vaccinated.

The issue was discussed at the House Health Committee earlier this week after it was put to the table by Edek MP Roulla Mavronicola and Akel MP Stella Misiaouli – who is also a paediatrician by trade.

MPs are cooperating with the Cyprus Medical Association (CyMA) and the Paediatric Society of Cyprus towards encouraging parents to get their children vaccinated in line with global practices. The organisations in January began documenting instances where children had either never had their vaccinations or fallen behind to get a better understanding of the magnitude of the problem.

CyMA Secretary Dr Anastasia Symeou revealed to the committee on Thursday that her association had received a number of complaints about doctors who had advised parents against getting their children vaccinated. There have also been complaints that doctors advised adults travelling to destinations where vaccinations are warranted not to get them.

Some parents, MPs also heard, are being misinformed by other parents or via the social media.

Health Ministry representative Dr Maria Kolio, meanwhile, said data collected in 2015 indicated that only 2% of parents who did not vaccinate their children between the ages of 17 and 24 months did so because they preferred homoeopathic medicine or for reasons of religion or other personal beliefs.

Most, she noted, put it off because their child had fallen ill with colds or similar passing ailments.

She said although Health Ministry vaccination records were already comprehensive, the new effort to document vaccinations would help the authorities better target parents and remind them of the importance of getting their children vaccinated.