Сhickenpox epidemic threatens North Caucasus

© Photo: Maria Novoselova/Vestnik Kavkaza

Vaccination of children against chickenpox in Russia is carried out unevenly. In a number of regions, not a single child was vaccinated during the year. The situation is worst in Karachay-Cherkessia, North Ossetia, and Adygea.

According to Rospotrebnadzor data for 2023, some regions of Russia, including the republics of the North Caucasus, did not vaccinate children against chickenpox last year.

"In 6 regions of the country, in 2023, immunization against chickenpox was not carried out at all: the republics of Adygea, Kalmykia, Mordovia, North Ossetia, Karachay-Cherkessia, the Jewish Autonomous Region,”

– Rospotrebnadzor informed.

Less than 10 children were vaccinated last year in such regions as Dagestan, Chuvashia, Pskov and Kostroma. In most regions, only 1-2% of preschool children were vaccinated.

A cyclical rise in the incidence of chickenpox has been observed in the country since 2021; over the past year, the incidence increased by 28.4% among children of 1-2 years old, by 15% among children 3–6 years old, and by 56% among older adolescents. In regions with poor immunization, the situation with chickenpox is worse than in the country as a whole.