Issue 3/2023
Trancheva, D., Department of Health Care, University of Ruse “Angel Kanchev” Bulgaria
Poliomyelitis is an infectious disease that is characterized by inflammatory changes in the spinal cord, paralysis, severe course and high mortality. There is no etiological treatment for poliomyelitis. The only thing that matters is timely prophylaxis with poliovirus vaccines. The prevention of poliomyelitis in Bulgaria is carried out by immunization with Seibin‘s anti-polio vaccine in three doses – on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th month after birth. Reimmunization is carried out at 16 months and at 6 years of age (1). The Covid-19 pandemic has taken over and changed the world. Now in its third year, this is the „new normal“. Humanity is faced with challenges related to the functioning of national health systems, coping with the crisis situation and overcoming the consequences in the field of public health (3). The topicality and importance of the topic is determined by the fact that immunizations are an important tool for protecting the health of the population and controlling infectious diseases. Modern vaccines are effective and limit the occurrence and spread of a wide range of diseases.
The aim of the present study is to investigate the immunization coverage of the population with anti-polio vaccines in the Ruse region in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic. After the study, the following conclusions were reached: in 2021, the level of coverage with mandatory immunizations and reimmunizations against poliomyelitis in the Ruse region is lower than previous years, as the main prerequisite for this is the epidemic situation in the country regarding Covid-19.
Address for correspondence:
Trancheva, D.
Department of Health Care, University of Ruse
“Angel Kanchev” Bulgaria
8, Studentska, Str.
7017, Russe
e-mail: deniza3@abv.bg