Surveying children and adult vaccination program against diphtheria, tetanus, measles and viral hepatitis B in the Russian Federation

Over the last years, incidence of vaccine-preventable infections tended to increase both in Russia and multiple European countries due to diverse reasons, including loss of alertness in medical workers to ensure proper quality of immunization. Currently, vaccination is considered to be the most efficient means for preventing infectious diseases. However, vaccination efficacy is directly related to population coverage and proper timeframe for its application.

Materials and methods. Diphtheria, tetanus, measles and hepatitis B vaccination coverage and timeframe were analyzed for population of Russia, Moscow as well as the three pediatric and adult out-patient hospitals.

Results. It was found that compared to adults, pediatric subjects were vaccinated better. However, in case of 95% or higher coverage against all infections, shortcomings in vaccination timeframe were uncovered. In 2017, despite pediatric subjects should be vaccinated against diphtheria and tetanus at the age of 3-to-6 months, coverage was as low as 46.9% in Russia, 48.7% in Moscow that ranged in some polyclinics from 21.8% in 2012 down to 1.7% in 2017. Moreover, this situation was even more unfavorable in case of revaccination program. In particular, it was found that at the age of 18 months only 50, 54, and 49–55% underwent revaccination in the Russia, Moscow 54%, and some out-patient hospitals, whereas at the age of 7–14 years in Russia there were revaccinated up to 97% population. Likewise, at the age of 6 months there were covered with vaccination against hepatitis B as few as 49% population in Russia and Moscow, whereas more than 90% coverage was achieved only at the age of 1 year. Immunization coverage reaching more than 85% of adult population against hepatitis B is superior to diphtheria and tetanus. Immunization coverage against measles in Russia at all age groups was over 90% population. Thus, it is necessary to optimize activities on adhering to vaccination timeframe, as decline in quality of vaccination inevitably leads to elevated incidence rate of vaccine-preventable infections. This and vaccination coverage might be adjusted by introducing a Preventive Vaccination Surveillance and Reporting Automated System in the Russian Federation.