In order to discuss how to achieve better results in the field of immunization in Latvia for the benefit of public health, Health Minister Līga MenĆgelsone met with the members of the State Immunization Council (IVP) on Wednesday, February 15.
During the conversation, the minister presented the operational priorities, the progress of the preparation of the 2023 state budget, the agreement reached among them that in 2023, state-paid vaccination against human papilloma virus infection for 12 to 14-year-old (inclusive) boys and vaccination against pertussis for 14 years old children and pregnant women. The minister also pointed to the role of the education sector in promoting public vaccination. She expressed that the provision of quality health education in educational institutions should be implemented as soon as possible, starting from September of this year. Therefore, one of the priorities of the Ministry of Health is active joint work with the Ministry of Education and Science in order to achieve this goal.
During the meeting, it was recognized that vaccination is one of the public safety measures and only contributes to public health. Specialists emphasized the benefits of vaccination against human papillomavirus (CPV), pneumococcal infection, influenza, and also provided data on vaccination coverage for children in Latvia, which tends to decrease.
According to the experts, state-paid vaccination against CVP should be provided to wider groups of young people, including boys up to the age of 18. In order to achieve the widest possible vaccination coverage and reduce the spread of CPV, it is necessary to vaccinate both girls and boys against CPV and to give the opportunity to the widest possible range of people to receive the vaccine. In the long term, a certain level of vaccination in the community would mean reducing the incidence or even eradicating the types of cancer caused by this virus, experts explained. Also, a wider spectrum vaccine against pneumococcal infection is available in the world, which protects against more types of this bacterium. It should be taken into account that the spectrum of pneumococci spread in Latvia has changed thanks to the current vaccination, therefore, in order to protect society from the currently spread pneumococci types, it is necessary to provide a newer generation of vaccines. Specialists also called for timely preparation for the next flu season and flu vaccination in the fall, including emphasizing the selection of appropriate vaccines for certain age and health problem groups.
Council representatives also repeatedly emphasized the economic benefits of vaccination, which protects Latvian society from getting sick and costs for health care afterwards. The Minister of Health and the IVP agreed to meet regularly to discuss current affairs and the best immunization calendar and state-provided vaccinations for the population.
It has already been reported that on January 31, the government supported the amendments to the “Vaccination Rules”, which provide for the continuation of boys’ vaccination against CVP in 2023, as well as the vaccination of teenagers and pregnant women against whooping cough. In general, funding from the state budget was found to continue the measures included in the vaccination calendar, which were started in 2022.
The National Immunization Council has a consultative role and the purpose of its activity is to evaluate issues related to vaccination and the implementation of immunization policy in the country, and to provide proposals for their evaluation. The council is headed by prof. Dace Zavadska. Eight multidisciplinary experts and professionals in the country work voluntarily and without financial gain: Uga Dumpis, head of the Infection Monitoring Service of Paula Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital, family doctor Ainis Dzalbs, Dace Gardovska, head of the Department of Pediatrics of Riga Stradiņš University, gynecologist of the Riga Maternity Hospital, obstetrician Santa Markova, associate professor of the Department of Public Health and Epidemiology of Riga Stradiņš University, Anita Villeruša, chairwoman of the Latvian Public Health Association, Inga Akmentiņa-Smildziņa, head of the “Moms and Dads” foundation. Representatives of such responsible institutions of the health sector participate in Council meetings without the right to vote.
