Starting August 1, Ukraine will launch a campaign to increase immunization against pertussis, diphtheria and tetanus among population groups that missed scheduled vaccinations in previous years. The campaign will last until the end of the year. This was reported by the Center for Public Health of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, according to UNN.
Details
According to the Center, by the end of 2023, the vaccination rate against diphtheria and tetanus among Ukrainians is 37% lower than in the EU.
In 2023, only 151,697 children were vaccinated. The rest - despite the uninterrupted availability of the vaccine in healthcare facilities at the regional level - skipped the vaccination.
The global goal of the Ministry of Health, based on the results of additional immunization activities, is to vaccinate 80% of Ukrainians who have missed the scheduled immunization against pertussis, diphtheria and tetanus to create collective immunity.
The Center reminded that these diseases are deadly. Vaccination is the only way to protect yourself, and the vaccination is 95-100% effective.
Why are pertussis, diphtheria and tetanus dangerous
[Whooping cough is an acute bacterial infectious disease of the respiratory tract. It is characterized by severe coughing attacks that can last for several weeks or even months. It is spread by airborne droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It affects mostly children and adolescents, but adults can also get sick.
Pertussis is most dangerous for infants, in whom it can cause temporary respiratory arrest (apnea), and in general, newborns and infants have a high risk of complications and death. In 2024, two children under the age of 1 died of pertussis in Ukraine.
Diphtheria is an acute infectious disease that affects mainly the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract and skin, forming characteristic films that can cause serious complications.
The bacterium enters the human body through the respiratory tract, where it begins to release a toxin that enters the bloodstream and affects various organs, most often the heart, nervous system, and kidneys. Even with timely treatment, about 20% of unvaccinated patients die.
Tetanus is an acute infectious disease caused by a bacterium that releases a powerful toxin, affects the nervous system and leads to severe painful muscle spasms (convulsions).
You can get tetanus if the pathogen enters the skin through skin damage: wounds, cuts, burns, animal bites, injuries with sharp objects, wood fragments. For example, a child can become infected by being injured by a nail that is contaminated with soil. The mortality rate from tetanus reaches 25-80%.