“Problematic situation”: Vaccine refusals on the rise in Kazakhstan

Tengrinews.kz – More than 20,000 Kazakh citizens officially refused vaccination in 2025, according to Sarchat Beisenova, Chair of the Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Control, who spoke at a Central Communications Service briefing.

Beisenova noted that the number of vaccine refusals has increased nearly fourfold over the past eight years.

“In Kazakhstan, this situation is also problematic today. Compared to 2017, the number of refusals has grown 3.8 times — from about 5,300 to roughly 20,000 in 2025. So yes, we’re seeing a clear increase in vaccine hesitancy,” she said.

The reported figures cover all types of vaccinations. However, Beisenova stressed that no refusals were recorded among high-risk groups when it came to influenza shots.

She also stated that 2.1 million doses of the flu vaccine were purchased using the national budget, and “as of now, 1,919,417 people have been vaccinated across the country.”

Beisenova emphasized that while the growing trend mirrors a global issue, Kazakhstan continues efforts to promote public awareness and ensure vaccination accessibility.