Russia will no longer vaccinate with foreign flu vaccines

The flu vaccination campaign continues in RUSSIA . RBC looked into who is recommended to get vaccinated and what drugs are now available to Russians. Domestic clinics do not offer foreign vaccines. What happens to the incidence of influenza

In Russia, the seasonal increase in influenza incidence continues. As the press service of Rospotrebnadzor told RBC, in the 38th week of the year more than 1.2 million cases of influenza and ARVI were registered.

The highest incidence rate was detected in 26 regions. An increase in the incidence of influenza and ARVI was noted in all age groups.

The press service of Rospotrebnadzor clarified that about 98% of identified respiratory viruses are viruses of non-influenza etiology. The share of influenza viruses was 14%.

In the Moscow region there is currently an increase in the incidence of acute respiratory viral infections. But the incidence rate of ARVI is generally lower than in the same period in 2022. The appearance of influenza strains among the population of the Moscow region has not yet been recorded. In the current epidemic season of 2023/24, no cases of influenza have yet been registered in the region, the Moscow Region Ministry of HEALTH told RBC, adding that as of September 25, about 900 thousand residents of the region have already been vaccinated against influenza.

The Health Committee of St. Petersburg clarified that the registration of infectious diseases is carried out by Rospotrebnadzor , and noted that if influenza was recorded, these were isolated cases. The department also noted that the population’s activity in flu vaccination in the city is approximately the same as last year.

Who should get the flu vaccine?

During a press conference on the topic “Prevention of seasonal diseases in the autumn,” Deputy DIRECTOR for Scientific Work of the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor Alexander Gorelov said that first of all, children who are developing immunity should be vaccinated against influenza, and people of the older generation who are there is a syndrome of falling asleep immunity, as well as for those who have chronic diseases.

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“Timely vaccination prevents the risk of influenza in 80–90% of children and adults, while the disease in those vaccinated is milder, with minimal risk of complications,” says Rospotrebnadzor.

Flu vaccination is mandatory for workers in education, services, transport, law enforcement and control agencies. According to Alexander Gorelov, in the 2023/24 epidemic season it is planned to vaccinate 60% of the population and 75% of people at risk against influenza.

Professor of the Department of Pediatrics, Moscow Regional Research Clinical Institute named after. M.F. Vladimirsky (MONIKI) Elena Meskina told RBC that children , teenagers and people over 60 years of age should be vaccinated against the flu first . Employees in contact with people must be vaccinated.

Where to get vaccinated against flu in Moscow, Moscow region and St. Petersburg

According to Rospotrebnadzor, more than 18 million people have been vaccinated against influenza in Russia so far. As RBC found out, clinics offer only domestic vaccines. Problems with the supply of foreign flu vaccines began in 2017; for the last few years, foreign vaccines have been unavailable. In 2023, all large chain clinics surveyed by RBC will offer only Russian vaccines.

What and where are they vaccinated in state clinics?

There are 16 mobile vaccination points in Moscow. They are installed at the exits of some metro stations, at the MCC and at railway stations, as well as in GUM. GUM reported that information on the availability of drugs for immunization against influenza must be clarified upon arrival at the vaccination point.

The website of the capital's health department reports that inactivated vaccines are used to immunize the population, which do not contain a live virus and cannot lead to disease.

The website of the Department of Health also published information that vaccination against influenza can be carried out from six months. Now children are vaccinated against influenza with the Ultrix Quadri vaccine. On September 20, the capital’s vice-mayor for social issues, Anastasia Rakova, announced the start of mass vaccination in clinics, as well as schools and kindergartens.

In the Moscow region, there are currently Sovigripp and Grippol Plus (trivalent) and Ultrix Quadri vaccines for vaccination against influenza.

The St. Petersburg Health Committee reported that the region received more trivalent vaccine than quadrivalent vaccine.

What are they vaccinated in private clinics?

In the multidisciplinary clinics “Medprime”, “GUTA Clinic”, JSC “Medicine”, “First Clinic of Izmailovo” by Dr. Bandurina, “Mother and Child” and Hadassah, adults can also get vaccinated against influenza with the drug “Ultrix Quadri”. The quadrivalent Flu-M Tetra vaccine is available at the Moscow Clinic. At Medsi, people are vaccinated with Sovigripp, Grippol Plus and Ultrix Quadri vaccines.

Invitro does not have any flu vaccines available. VavilovMed reported that they do not yet vaccinate against influenza, although information to the contrary is posted on the clinic’s website.

According to DSM Group analysts, in the 7 months of 2023, the state segment received about 1.37 million packages of domestic vaccines Sovigripp, Ultrix Quadri, Flu-M, Flu-M Tetra, Ultrix, Grippol Quadrivalent and Grippol Plus) and 2.3 thousand packages foreign vaccine Influvac produced by Abbott. Over the same period in 2022, the state segment received more than 1.9 million packages of Russian vaccines (Sovigripp, Ultrix Quadri, Flu-M Tetra, Grippol Quadrivalent and Grippol Plus) and 15.9 thousand packages of foreign vaccines (Vaxigrip from Sanofi and Influvac from Abbott) .

According to the State Register of Medicines (SRLS), the Vaxigrip Tetra (tetravalent) vaccine from Sanofi is registered in Russia, and information about the drug Vaxigrip (trivalent vaccine) is not in the SRLS, since its registration was canceled in 2021.

Which vaccines do doctors recommend to give preference to?

Infectious disease specialist and chief physician of the Leader-Medicine medical center Evgeny Timakov told RBC that every year, against the backdrop of the covid-19 epidemic, the human body is more and more unprepared to deal with various acute respiratory viral infections. CORONAVIRUS infection has changed the circulation structure of other viruses, reduced the immune response to viral processes, changed existing immunity , erased part of the immunological memory of previous infections, and also changed the susceptibility and resistance of organs to various infections.

According to the expert, while cases of influenza in Russia are isolated, an increase in the incidence of influenza in the 2023-2024 epidemic season is expected in December. The only chance not to get the flu or to get over the flu without complications is to get vaccinated, the DOCTOR assures. After immunization, immunity lasts 6-12 months, so it is necessary to undergo revaccination at least once a year. Vaccination reactions such as pain at the injection site, malaise and fever are extremely rare with influenza vaccination. The drugs are so safe that they are approved for immunization of children from 6 months, the doctor added.

This year, Russians can be vaccinated with drugs with a reduced antigenic load - Sovigripp, Grippol Quadrivalent and Grippol Plus, but for vaccination they should not have autoimmune diseases, the doctor noted. You can also get vaccinated with vaccines manufactured according to European standards and protect against a larger number of flu strains. We are talking about the drugs Ulrix Quadri and Flu-M Tetra.

Timakov emphasized that despite the availability of trivalent vaccines, the majority prefer to be vaccinated with quadrivalent ones. He urged not to chase foreign vaccines, noting that domestic ones are no worse, and sometimes better than foreign ones in quality.

The main symptoms of influenza: fever up to 38–40 degrees; nasal congestion; difficulty breathing; sore and sore throat; chills; weakness, lethargy, malaise; headache , dizziness; Pain in the eyes; aching muscles and joints; dyspeptic syndrome (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain).