The Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) is reinforcing Bermuda’s defences against vaccine-preventable diseases through its annual training workshop. This year’s sessions focused on building vaccine confidence, using the Electronic Immunisation Registry (EIR)and highlighting its interfacing with our stakeholders, identifying coverage gaps, ensuring safe vaccine handling and administration, and strengthening disease surveillance for illnesses such as measles, polio, and chickenpox.

The annual EPI Workshop took place on Wednesday, 10 September 2025, at the Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) E. F. Gordon Hall. In attendance were Mr. Kendell, Ms. Lynn Jackson, Chief Nursing Officer, and more than 40 healthcare professionals from physician offices, long-term care facilities, and the Department of Health. Sessions were led by experts from Epidemiology and Surveillance, Sexual Reproductive Health, Child Health, and the EPI Programme.

“These government-led efforts keep Bermuda prepared, but protection depends on the partnership between healthcare providers and the wider community,” highlighted Director David Kendell. “The importance of public participation must also be underscored. Bermudians are proactive, and we look out for one another. Think of vaccines like hurricane insurance. We may not always see the storm coming, but being prepared protects us from the serious damage it could cause. In the same way, vaccines protect us from diseases that may seem rare but can return quickly if we let our guard down. Just as we would never cancel our hurricane insurance on a sunny day, we should never skip vaccines simply because everyone seems healthy. Staying protected is the best way to keep our families and communities safe.”

The Department of Health encourages every resident to regularly review their family’s vaccination records and contact their doctor if unsure of their status. By keeping immunisations up to date, the public completes the protection that government and healthcare professionals are working hard to maintain.