Vaccines against rotavirus and chickenpox are not included in the national calendar of preventive vaccinations

Vaccination against rotavirus infection in 2022 is not provided for in the national calendar preventive vaccinations (NCV), such a vaccine is also not included in the list of purchases of the Federal Center for Planning and Organization of Drug Provision of Citizens for 2023. The newspaper drew attention Vedomosti, “Kommersant” was convinced. The Ministry of Industry and Trade stated that funds for the purchase of a vaccine are not provided in the budget for 2023-2025.

The publication predicts that a similar situation could happen with the varicella vaccination planned for inclusion in the NPP next year. Funds for it are also not provided in the budget for the next three years.

As Vedomosti writes, both vaccines were included in the schedule for the implementation of the Strategy for the Development of Immunoprophylaxis until 2035. The representative of the Ministry of Health explained the lack of vaccines by the fact that the drugs are not produced in Russia, as required by the strategy. However, in the near future, the interlocutor of the publication notes, a draft government order will be prepared taking into account the new terms for the localization of vaccines.

According to the newspaper, Nacimbio, a subsidiary of Rostec, and Nanolek (produces pediatric vaccines) planned to localize foreign vaccines in Russia. Nacimbio wanted to produce immunobiological preparations for rotavirus, chickenpox and HPV together with MSD, Nanolek in partnership with GSK – chickenpox vaccines. However, representatives of the projects specified that they were stopped. The reasons given are not only “commercial aspects and evaluation of the clinical effectiveness of drugs”, but also circumstances “out of the control of the company.”

According to the publication, a possible executor of the state order within the framework of the expanded national calendar may be Pharm Aid Ltd, founded five years ago as a joint venture between Nacimbio (withdrew from the project) and the Dubai-based vaccine manufacturer Ishwan Pharmaceutical. At the moment, Pharm Aid Ltd is practically the only supplier of a vaccine for the prevention of rotavirus infection in Russia.

In 2019, President Vladimir Putin instructed the government to develop a strategy for the development of immunoprophylaxis. In accordance with the order, in addition to rotavirus and chickenpox, it was planned to replenish the NKPP with vaccination against papillomavirus infection in 2024, and in 2025 against meningococcal infection. Currently, vaccination against rotavirus, chickenpox and meningococcal infection is provided exclusively in the preventive vaccination calendar for epidemic indications, that is, conscripts, people from risk groups or residents of regions where infections have been spreading for a long time are vaccinated free of charge.

September 11 Rospotrebnadzor announced on the development of the first vaccine against rotavirus in Russia, the production of which is planned to be launched in 2023.

About what is known about the drug created by scientists of Rospotrebnadzor – in the material “Kommersant FM” Rotavirus found a vaccine.

Milena Kostereva