The incidence of influenza in Tatarstan decreased 12 times for 5 years

Annually, about 60 thousand infectious diseases are prevented by vaccinations in the republic.

(KZN.RU, April 24, Ksenia Shvetsova). Every year, up to 60 thousand infectious diseases are prevented due to vaccine prevention in Tatarstan. Last year alone, 62722 cases of diphtheria, measles, rubella, polio, acute hepatitis B and mumps were prevented, and the averted economic damage amounted to 40 million rubles. Unvaccinated residents are at risk most often. Luybov Avdonina, the deputy head of the Office of Rospotrebnadzor for the RT. told about this today at the press conference in the IA “Tatar-inform”.

In 2018, the number of diseases transmitted by airborne infections that can be controlled by immunoprophylaxis means decreased 58 times in Russia compared to the 1980s, and 145 times in Tatarstan. “In the 80s, more than a thousand cases of measles were registered annually. Thanks to mass vaccination, the incidence was reduced hundreds of times. During the period from 2010 to 2016, only 59 cases were registered”, said the speaker.

Most of the deadly diseases in Russia were reduced to just a few cases, noted L. Avdonina. Poliomyelitis has not been registered in Russia since 1995, since 2009 – diphtheria, since 2011 – rubella, since 2010 – acute viral hepatitis B among children.

Last year, Tatarstan managed to cover 48% of the population with influenza vaccination, which is almost 22% more than in previous years. The incidence of influenza in the last 5 years has decreased by more than 12 times due to the growing number of vaccinated citizens.

The risks of disease among unvaccinated citizens remain high and they are mainly associated with the importation of infectious diseases from outside the country. Since 2016, measles has become widespread again in the countries of the European region. The most unfavorable situation is in Ukraine, Georgia, Romania, Albania, Greece, and other countries. And although the incidence rate of measles in the Russian Federation is ten times lower than in the countries of the European region, the centers of the imported infection have already been registered since the beginning of this year.

Last year, 12 cases of measles were reported in Tatarstan. According to L. Avdonina, the first case was imported, and the rest of the citizens got infected as they were not vaccinated. “Measles is 100% contagious: if at least 1 person in a team is sick, then everyone will get sick”, explained the speaker.

In order to stabilize the situation, a resolution was issued on April 1 by the Chief State Sanitary Inspector of the RF on conducting measles immunization. Anyone who has not been vaccinated or was vaccinated only once will be able to receive free immunization. Today it is already planned to vaccinate 18 thousand people in Tatarstan. The measles immunization regimen will last until October 1.

The national preventive vaccination calendar in Russia includes 12 mandatory free vaccinations. All of them are carried out by vaccines, which are released only after careful multistage checks and are subjected to repeated tests.

Children are vaccinated almost from birth, as the immunity of a newborn child, which is transmitted from the mother, lasts only up to 6 months. “The child is helpless before infectious diseases. BCG vaccination against tuberculosis is put to a child still in the maternity hospital, because the child is susceptible to the bacteria of tuberculosis from birth, it is most dangerous for newborns”, explained L. Avdonina.

Since 2014, as part of the national calendar, all children have been vaccinated for meningococcal infection, which is transmitted by airborne droplets. Vaccinations are being done from one month of age.

Adults also need to be vaccinated regularly, because they are the sources of infection for their children. Every 10 years, vaccinations against diphtheria and tetanus should be updated; 3 vaccinations against hepatitis B should be made until 55 years old and all should be vaccinated against influenza every year.

Vaccine prevention is carried out in all medical institutions that have the appropriate license. The therapist or pediatrician must examine the patient before the vaccination and obtain consent for the procedure. A slight increase in temperature may occur during the day after the injection. “There is the possibility of consultation for vaccination of people with chronic diseases on the basis of inter-municipal or urban immunoprophylaxis centers, which are created in inter-municipal centers or district hospitals”, said Dmitry Lopushov, the chief immunoprophylaxis experts of the Ministry of Health of the RT.

Last year, a pentavalent vaccine was registered for the first time in Russia. It can immediately protect against 5 infections: diphtheria, tetanus, polio, whooping cough, and hemophilic infection. D. Lopushkov explained that such a vaccine allows to reduce the injection load, but it will be allowed for widespread use only after passing the quality control. “There has not been such a vaccine on the domestic market for a long time. But now it is finally registered and will soon be used for the child population”, he added.

Despite the high efficiency of immunization, citizens often refuse vaccinations, putting at risk not only themselves, but also the life and health of those around them. In 2018, more than 58000 vaccination refusals were registered in Tatarstan. According to L. Avdonina, following the results of last year, it was possible to convince and inculcate every third objector. As a result, 30% of Tatarstan residents who planned to refuse it received vaccinations, and in 2016, there were only 19%.

“We are hampered by incorrect and sometimes just ridiculous publications about the fact that everything is bad, the nation was ruined by vaccinations, and all have become zombies a long time ago. But we all understand what these publications are based on. Older people remember how terrible it is when the infection takes the population”, said L. Avdonina. Responding to a question about whether it is possible not to vaccinate and rely on the modern treatment of diseases, she noted that there is not a specific treatment for all infections. For example, only symptomatic treatment is used for measles.

“It is possible to treat, but who wants his child to go through this? Last year, 6 cases of mumps were reported in the republic among religious groups who refused vaccination”, said L. Avdonina. “Infections, bacteria cannot be destroyed, they will always be in the environment. The only protection is vaccination”.