On the brink of a whooping cough epidemic – what options are the health authorities considering – Bulgaria

Health officials are considering whether the first whooping cough vaccine the smallest should be given not at two, but at a month and a half, as well as the other two doses – at 3 and 4 months of age, should also be given 2 weeks earlier, states NOVA.

The reason for such a change is that there are still the most sick people among infants under 1 year, and and the complications they are more common. So far, there are no ideas for changing the immunization plan for the remaining three doses among adolescents, and according to the health authorities there is no need to think about reimmunization every 10 years among adults.

Vaccine calendar – which are the mandatory immunizations and reimmunizations

With the new 70 cases for the first 2 days since last week, the number of infected people in our country is already around 400. The number prompted the authorities to act. “This is a rare disease and with it 400 cases is a significant number. Yes, this is it national epidemic”said the chief state health inspector Associate Professor Angel Kunchev.

General practitioners are of the opinion that pertussis tests must be covered by the Health Insurance Fund, in order to make the statistics more comprehensive, and to relieve families.

Associate Professor Angel Kunchev: Even if an epidemic of whooping cough is declared, strict measures will not be imposed

According to general practitioner Dr. Nikolay Hristov in Varna, the price is around BGN 60. “I have 2,500 patients. So far, I have not heard of anyone paying for PCR,” emphasized the medic.

However, the state has another plan – apart from Sofia, to have the opportunity to do free tests in 4 more regional cities. Funds are allocated to RZI in Varna, Plovdiv, Stara Zagora and Pleven, where there are laboratories attached to the university hospitals. From Monday they have to start this diagnostics. It will be free, but at the discretion of the RZI and according to criteria that have not yet been sent to them by the health authorities.

According to the pediatric infectious disease specialist Assoc. Atanas Mangarov, the problem with whooping cough is rooted elsewhere. In 2010, Bulgaria, following the example of other countries, stops using the whole cell vaccine against whooping cough because of its side effects. “She almost always had a high temperature and sometimes had seizures,” notes the associate professor.

The acellular vaccines that Bulgaria switched to then failed to create herd immunity and give shorter-lasting protection. “They do not give immunity to the mucous membranes and those who are vaccinated can become infected and accordingly spread whooping cough, without themselves becoming seriously ill”, Assoc. Mangerov stressed.

Assoc. Mangarov indicated the reason for the boom in whooping cough in our country

The health authorities have a different opinion. “The decision is absolutely correct. No developed country will go back to the whole cell vaccine. One of the weaknesses is that the immunity is actually a little shorter”, said Prof. Kunchev.

The question is also on the agenda whether the youngest should be immunized 2 weeks earlier. “We have to make it so not to drive the mother twice a month, and to withdraw the other vaccines also 2 weeks earlier, in order to ease the work of personal doctors and especially mothers”, noted the chief state health inspector.

The peak of whooping cough in our country is expected by the end of May

Pmost epidemiologists recommend vaccination of pregnant women in the third trimesterbut there were also exceptions.

“If a lady decides to get pregnant, it is good to get vaccinated before she gets pregnant. The antibodies are the same, they will also go to the newborn”, recommended Assoc. Mangerov.

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