Two more mandatory vaccines

The list of preventive vaccinations will be expanded. The deputies voted at the plenary session in the second reading today for the inclusion of two more vaccines in the Immunization Calendar – against pneumococcal and hemophilic infections. The parliamentarians agreed with the proposal of the Ministry of Health, which provided information on the danger of these infections.

Pneumococcal and hemophilic infections are a fairly common cause of death among children under the age of five years to date. Hemophilic infection causes about 20% of cases of pneumonia in children, which can lead to death. The World Health Organization conducted research during which it studied the data of several Pridnestrovian and Moldovan cities at once back in the early 2000s (Tiraspol, Bendery, Chisinau and Balti). It turned out that in these cities up to 200 cases of pneumonia and septic meningitis are registered annually, which are caused by hemophilic infection.

Pneumococcal infections account for about 80% of pneumonia and meningitis. Pneumococcal disease kills more than a million children worldwide every year.

Doctors say that both infections are dangerous with a high mortality rate. In addition, treatment is expensive and not always effective. The republic studied the experience of neighboring countries, as well as Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, where both vaccines are already included in the national calendars of preventive vaccinations. Vaccination schedules are the same as DTP vaccinations to children.

The deputies adopted changes to the Calendar of immunization of the population today. There will be more mandatory vaccinations in the republic after the document is signed by the President. As parliamentarians of the relevant Committee on Social Policy and Health noted today, vaccination of the population must be carried out taking into account the schemes that operate in neighboring countries. Funding in the amount of 8 million rubles is provided for activities under the state program "Immunization of the population of the PMR" in 2022. These funds will also be used to purchase new types of vaccines.