Vaccination is not just for children
Recently, the national information space is simply oversaturated with medical topics, including vaccination culture, children’s diseases and adults, the difference between vaccines and sera, and outbreaks of infections that seem to have forgotten the whole civilized world… But, As you know, there is no smoke without fire, so let’s understand.
Vaccination: for whom?
The fund has already covered the topic of vaccinations in general, but given the current situation with diphtheria outbreaks in adults, let’s focus on a specific aspect - the adult. For some reason, a false stereotype has formed in society that vaccination is only for children. Yes, of course, most human vaccinations are given in childhood. These include vaccination against hepatitis B, tuberculosis, polio, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hemophilia, measles, rubella and mumps.But this is not enough to safely coexist with a person in constant contact with society. Being responsible for health is not only feeling good, but also taking responsibility for whether I am personally a carrier of a disease and whether my environment will not suffer. And unfortunately, now this responsibility is much lower than we would like, and life in Ukrainian cities is becoming a real test and test of the theory "the strongest survives." After all, according to the Ministry of Health of this year and this year, measles, tetanus and diphtheria - diseases that can be protected only by acquiring immunity through vaccinations - both children and adults are sick. This once again confirms that it is not age that protects against diseases, but timely vaccination.
Therefore, if you are over 26 years old (namely at the age of 26 you should have the first adult revaccination against diphtheria and tetanus), you should refer to the vaccination calendar. First, check your vaccination list. You can find information about it in your hospital card or contact your family doctor. If there are no records of childhood vaccinations or there are doubts about the correct vaccination, doctors advise to do a blood test for appropriate antibodies. The presence of antibodies means that the body is protected from this virus, but the absence - signals the need for re-vaccination.
What does an adult vaccination calendar look like?
Scheduled vaccinations for adults are free. They can be done in vaccination rooms or at your family doctor. The Ministry of Health emphasizes that the state buys enough drugs to prevent a shortage of vaccines. Therefore, diphtheria and tetanus vaccinations are mandatory vaccinations every 10 years, starting at 26.If you have not been vaccinated as a child, or it is not known whether you have been vaccinated or not, you must receive at least three doses of ADP-M: the first dose, one month later, the second, 6 months after the second, the third. Adults should also be reimbursed if they missed childhood vaccinations such as measles, rubella, and mumps (two doses of the CCP vaccine protect against measles, rubella, and mumps for life; (according to the calendar - in 1 and 6 years); hepatitis B vaccination (immunization against hepatitis B will protect people from the dangerous effects of viral infection; vaccination is recommended for all adults who were not vaccinated in childhood; vaccination and dosage regimen is selected by the doctor depending on age and medical history of the patient).
What is the situation with this year’s outbreak of "non-child" diphtheria?
According to the operative information of the Ministry of Health on the epidemic situation in the country regarding diphtheria during the first 10 months of 2019 (as of November 1), 21 diagnoses of "diphtheria" were established. 19 patients out of 21 were diagnosed in October. The ministry emphasizes that the current increase in the incidence is due to the extremely low coverage of vaccination. There are currently 6,800,000 doses of diphtheria vaccine in Ukraine, but vaccination coverage does not exceed 60% among adults and children under one year of age.
In previous years, the figures were even lower: in 2015, only 21% of the population was vaccinated, and in 2016 - 26%, respectively. That is why there is a risk of spreading the infection.Outbreaks of diphtheria occur in countries where immunization coverage is low. Over the past 9 years, from 2010 to 2018, a total of 56 diphtheria patients were registered in Ukraine.
And finally. The experience of world doctors shows that vaccination is the best option in the fight against deadly diseases. It avoids diseases for which there is no cure (such as measles) and protects against the serious consequences of infections (such as hepatitis). Doctors emphasize that the risk of complications after the disease is much higher than the risk of side effects after vaccination.
It should be remembered that every vaccinated person is part of the collective immunity. That is, if society is 90-95% vaccinated against a dangerous virus, then it simply has nowhere to develop, and therefore no one gets sick.
Bless you!
Author Kateryna Stebelska
Photo Lifehacker.ru
Read also: Plastic to help: how ordinary garbage turns into good deeds
Vaccination: for whom?
The fund has already covered the topic of vaccinations in general, but given the current situation with diphtheria outbreaks in adults, let’s focus on a specific aspect - the adult. For some reason, a false stereotype has formed in society that vaccination is only for children. Yes, of course, most human vaccinations are given in childhood. These include vaccination against hepatitis B, tuberculosis, polio, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hemophilia, measles, rubella and mumps.But this is not enough to safely coexist with a person in constant contact with society. Being responsible for health is not only feeling good, but also taking responsibility for whether I am personally a carrier of a disease and whether my environment will not suffer. And unfortunately, now this responsibility is much lower than we would like, and life in Ukrainian cities is becoming a real test and test of the theory "the strongest survives." After all, according to the Ministry of Health of this year and this year, measles, tetanus and diphtheria - diseases that can be protected only by acquiring immunity through vaccinations - both children and adults are sick. This once again confirms that it is not age that protects against diseases, but timely vaccination.
Therefore, if you are over 26 years old (namely at the age of 26 you should have the first adult revaccination against diphtheria and tetanus), you should refer to the vaccination calendar. First, check your vaccination list. You can find information about it in your hospital card or contact your family doctor. If there are no records of childhood vaccinations or there are doubts about the correct vaccination, doctors advise to do a blood test for appropriate antibodies. The presence of antibodies means that the body is protected from this virus, but the absence - signals the need for re-vaccination.
What does an adult vaccination calendar look like?Scheduled vaccinations for adults are free. They can be done in vaccination rooms or at your family doctor. The Ministry of Health emphasizes that the state buys enough drugs to prevent a shortage of vaccines. Therefore, diphtheria and tetanus vaccinations are mandatory vaccinations every 10 years, starting at 26.If you have not been vaccinated as a child, or it is not known whether you have been vaccinated or not, you must receive at least three doses of ADP-M: the first dose, one month later, the second, 6 months after the second, the third. Adults should also be reimbursed if they missed childhood vaccinations such as measles, rubella, and mumps (two doses of the CCP vaccine protect against measles, rubella, and mumps for life; (according to the calendar - in 1 and 6 years); hepatitis B vaccination (immunization against hepatitis B will protect people from the dangerous effects of viral infection; vaccination is recommended for all adults who were not vaccinated in childhood; vaccination and dosage regimen is selected by the doctor depending on age and medical history of the patient).
What is the situation with this year’s outbreak of "non-child" diphtheria?
According to the operative information of the Ministry of Health on the epidemic situation in the country regarding diphtheria during the first 10 months of 2019 (as of November 1), 21 diagnoses of "diphtheria" were established. 19 patients out of 21 were diagnosed in October. The ministry emphasizes that the current increase in the incidence is due to the extremely low coverage of vaccination. There are currently 6,800,000 doses of diphtheria vaccine in Ukraine, but vaccination coverage does not exceed 60% among adults and children under one year of age.
In previous years, the figures were even lower: in 2015, only 21% of the population was vaccinated, and in 2016 - 26%, respectively. That is why there is a risk of spreading the infection.Outbreaks of diphtheria occur in countries where immunization coverage is low. Over the past 9 years, from 2010 to 2018, a total of 56 diphtheria patients were registered in Ukraine.
And finally. The experience of world doctors shows that vaccination is the best option in the fight against deadly diseases. It avoids diseases for which there is no cure (such as measles) and protects against the serious consequences of infections (such as hepatitis). Doctors emphasize that the risk of complications after the disease is much higher than the risk of side effects after vaccination.
It should be remembered that every vaccinated person is part of the collective immunity. That is, if society is 90-95% vaccinated against a dangerous virus, then it simply has nowhere to develop, and therefore no one gets sick.
Bless you!
Author Kateryna Stebelska
Photo Lifehacker.ru
Read also: Plastic to help: how ordinary garbage turns into good deeds