Decreased herd immunity, measles and pertussis outbreaks in 2023

Objective. To analyze vaccination coverage and identify the characteristics of measles and pertussis morbidity among children in 2023. Materials and methods. The study involved an analysis of outpatient records from the City Children's Polyclinic No. 6 in Kazan. A total of 305 children aged 1 to 18 years (mean age 10.2 ± 0.33 years) were examined during the first quarter of 2023. The distribution by sex was as follows: boys – 54.75 % (n = 167), girls – 45.25 % (n = 138). Results. The analysis of outpatient records, vaccination certificates, and patient examinations revealed that 228 children (74.75 % of those examined) had received complete vaccinations, 41 children (13.45 %) had received partial vaccinations, and 36 children (11.8 %) had not been vaccinated at all with the adsorbed pertussis-diphtheria-tetanus vaccine. The analysis of measles vaccination coverage indicated that 74 children (48.68 % of those examined) had received complete vaccinations, 58 children (38.1 %) had received partial vaccinations, and 20 children (13.5 %) had not been vaccinated against measles. Conclusion. Reducing herd immunity to 74.75 % determines the necessity for vaccination initiatives aimed at increasing herd immunity to the target level of 95 %.