State of vaccination of diphtheria and tetanus in the population of ukraine in 2015-2018

Vaccine prevention is the main and most effective way of preventing diphtheria and tetanus. In Ukraine, the primary course of vaccination against these infectious diseases is carried out in childhood, adults is due for revaccination every decade. The formation of reliable and long-lasting anti-diphtheria and anti-tetanus immune protection is possible only with strict adherence to the immunization schemes provided by the Calendar of preventive vaccinations. This paper analyzes the performance of vaccination coverage against diphtheria and tetanus in different age groups of Ukraine in 2015-2018. The subject of the study was the materials of statistical registration of vaccination of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. During 2015-2018, the coverage rate for three diphtheria and tetanus vaccines for children under one year of age was 21-67.2%, which is well below the 95% recommended for European countries. There was not sufficient volume and revaccination in 18 months, completing the primary vaccine complex, as well as additional immunization of persons over the age of 1 who had not previously been vaccinated. Extremely low in 2015, there were indices of coverage by revaccination of children 6 and 16 years old and adults - 4.1%, 1.9% and 0.1% respectively. Since 2016, the situation with the implementation of the plan of revaccination in all age groups in general in the country has begun to improve, however, the population coverage rates in the regions ranged from 3.7% to 99.4%. Thus, there was a tendency towards an increase in the number of persons who did not receive any vaccination or who were immunized with significant violations of the vaccination schemes, which threatened epidemic welfare. In such conditions, the monitoring of the state of herd immunity in the individual regions and throughout the country plays an important role in determining the real level of protection of the population from diphtheria and tetanus and planning of additional preventive measures.