From 24 to 30 April, on the initiative of the World Health Organization (hereinafter referred to as WHO), the fourteenth European Immunisation Week (hereinafter referred to as EIW) is being held in the countries of the European Region, including the Republic of Belarus. Today, EIW is one of the most prominent annual healthcare campaigns.
The 2019 campaign is dedicated to "immunisation heroes" – people who make a huge contribution to protecting the lives of both adult and child populations. "Immunisation heroes" include healthcare professionals who administer vaccinations, parents who decide to have their children vaccinated, and all people who are interested in this issue and disseminate scientifically based information to raise public awareness.
The slogan of EIW-2019 is: "Protect ourselves together: vaccines work!" Expanding access to immunisation is an important condition for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Routine immunisation from the very beginning of life gives every child a chance for a healthy life from birth.
According to WHO data: every year worldwide, immunisation prevents 2 to 3 million deaths from diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, and measles.
Over the past decades of the last and present centuries, preventive vaccinations have led to significant successes in the prevention of a number of infectious diseases worldwide: smallpox has been eradicated, polio cases are still registered in only three countries, and there has been a significant reduction in cases of measles, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, generalised forms of tuberculosis, and acute viral hepatitis B in children, as well as other immunisation-preventable infections.
However, despite the successes in achieving disease eradication goals, there have been several outbreaks of measles, diphtheria, and a number of other vaccine-preventable diseases worldwide in the last two years. This is facilitated by a large number of unvaccinated children living in the poorest, most disadvantaged, and conflict-affected areas, as well as a large number of migrants.
The Republic of Belarus is actively progressing towards the eradication of infectious diseases and participates in WHO programs for polio eradication, and elimination of measles, rubella, and congenital rubella syndrome. For a long period, optimal coverage with preventive vaccinations (over 97% among children) has been maintained in the Republic of Belarus, which ensures the prevention of widespread circulation of infectious disease agents in case of their introduction into our country.
This situation was clearly demonstrated by cases of measles among our citizens. The presence of multiple introductions and such a small number of measles cases indicates that a sufficiently strong immune layer has been formed in our country thanks to vaccination, which prevents the active circulation of the measles virus among the population of the Republic of Belarus. This could be observed in the Lepel district in February 2019, when, after contact with an imported case of measles, individuals without immune status against measles fell ill.
Within the framework of the ENI, a wide range of activities is planned, aimed at working with the population, including those who refuse preventive vaccinations, as well as at raising public awareness about the necessity and available opportunities for protection against infectious diseases through vaccination, about the importance of timely immunization of family members, both for their own protection and for the protection of others, and also at increasing the effectiveness of work with individuals who refuse preventive vaccinations.
In the Republic of Belarus, the National Calendar of Preventive Vaccinations was updated by the Resolution of the Ministry of Health of May 17, 2018, No. 42.
The National Calendar of Preventive Vaccinations, as approved by the resolution, includes 11 vaccinations against:
Hepatitis B,
Tuberculosis,
Pneumococcal infection,
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type b,
Haemophilus influenzae type b,
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis,
Poliomyelitis,
Measles, mumps, rubella,
Diphtheria, tetanus,
Influenza,
Groups of individuals subject to these preventive vaccinations and the timing of vaccination are also defined.
In addition, a list of vaccinations performed for epidemiological reasons and a list of persons subject to such vaccinations have been determined.
Preventive vaccinations included in the national calendar are carried out in state healthcare organizations, as well as in non-state healthcare organizations that have a special permit (license) for medical activities issued in the manner prescribed by law.
Preventive vaccinations are carried out taking into account the indications and contraindications for their administration, in strict accordance with the instructions for medical use attached to the immunobiological medicinal product. Information on the administration of preventive vaccination is entered into the patient's medical records.
If the patient refuses preventive vaccination, the attending physician must explain the possible consequences.
Before carrying out preventive vaccination, a specialist physician conducts a medical examination and records its results in the medical records, and also monitors the patient for 30 minutes after the administration of the immunobiological medicinal product.
Immunization is the most successful, effective, and safe measure for the prevention of infectious diseases. Immunization is necessary for everyone. Immunization saves millions of lives!
Epidemiologist
Lepel District Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology
Natalia Pobortseva
